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FRIESLAND, or VRIESLAND
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FRIESLAND, or VRIESLAND, a province of Holland, bounded S.W., W. and N. by the Zuider Zee and the North Sea, E. by Groningen and Drente, and S.E. by Overysel. It also includes the islands of Ameland and Schiermonnikoog (see FRISIAN ISLANDS). Area, 1281 sq. m.; pop. (1900) 340,262. The soil of Friesland falls naturally into three divisions consisting of sea-clay in the north and north-west, of low-fen between the south-west and north-east, and of a comparatively small area of high-fen in the south-east. The clay and low-fen furnish a luxuriant meadow-land for the principal industries of the province —cattle-rearing and cheese- and butter-making. Horse-breeding has also been practised for centuries, and the breed of black Middle Sea. The seaport towns are more or less decayed; they include Stavoren (82o), Hindeloopen (1030), Workum (3428), Harlingen (q.v.) and Makkum (2456). For history see FRISIANS.