Gysbert Japicx

The complete route description with extensive information about Gysbert Japicx and the stories surrounding his life are available in the shop of it Gysbert Japicxhûs. It is also the starting point of the route. 

It Gysbert Japicxhûs, the birthplace of Gysbert Japicx, is located at Wipstraat 6 in Bolsward. The museum and shop are open on Mondays from 1.30 pm to 5 pm. Tuesday to Friday from 09:00 to 12:30 and from 13:00 to 17:00. In June and September on Saturdays from 11 am to 1 pm, on Saturdays in July and August from 11 am to 3 pm. On Heritage Day, open continuously from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

In the museum you can learn more about the life of Gysbert Japicx and the work he left behind. Gysbert Japicx, who was born in 1603, is regarded as the founder of the written Frisian language. In his time, Frisian was not written (anymore), but it was still spoken. Gysbert was interested in language. He attended the Latin school and later became a schoolmaster in Witmarsum. There the real Frisian was spoken, as was customary in the countryside, and he wrote many poems in it. He also felt connected to the church. He was a cantor in the large Martinikerk in Bolsward and translated many psalms from Dutch into the Frisian language.

Gysbert's father was also a well-known person. He was a box maker by profession and for some time mayor of the city of Bolsward (a box maker in those days was someone who also specialized in making wood carvings). The wood carvings in the council chamber of the town hall are his work. He was also involved in the design and construction of the town hall, as it can still be seen today. The town hall was built between 1614 and 1617.

Gysbert Japicx married Sijcke Salves from Leeuwarden. Together they had 6 children, all of whom died of the dreaded disease; the black Plague. Despite the great sadness that must have caused, Gysbert has always continued to write poems. 

His work was not published until after his death. Gysbert's collected work is called'de Friese Rymlerije\\\' and the first edition was published in 1668 by his friend Gabbema, who was himself an excellent poet. An edition of this is in a display case in the museum, which deals with the life of Gysbert Japicx. 

Later many books were written about Gysbert Japicx and his work and research was done into what he left behind. Gysbert had to come up with his own spelling of the language and to this day this is the basis of the Frisian written language. 

The bike ride goes to Witmarsum, the village where Gysbert taught. You will also come to Burgwerd, where the van Gysbert family lived and whose history is also interesting.

Enjoy the wide Frisian countryside, just like Gysbert did. Nature and love were great sources of inspiration for him. Gysbert was the greatest Frisian poet of the Renaissance and a contemporary of Vondel, Huygens and Bredero. 

Enjoy!

This route has been compiled by the Gysbert Japicx Holckema Foundation for the Open Monument Day 2019 and the activities surrounding the Gysbert Japicxpriis útrikking 2019.