Round Bolsward

Follow the route (when your back is to the birth house) turn right and immediately left onto the bridge, turn right onto the Grote Dijlakker. You pass the Catholic Basilica of St. Francis, built in the period 1932 - 1934. Much of the interior of the church comes from two earlier Catholic churches in Bolsward. Titus Brandsma (1881-1942) is connected to the basilica and parish as a priest's son. Titus Brandsma, born at Oeeklooster near Bolsward, studied philosophy in Rome. He was a very socially involved priest. Because of the fight against the German occupiers, he was arrested in 1942. He died in Dachau. 

Walk further along the Grote Dijlakker towards the large Marinikerk in Bolsward. From the Dijlakker you can cross a bridge to the tower and entrance of the church. On the spot where the church now stands, there used to be a Romanesque church made of tuff. The current church was consecrated in 1459 and is a pseudo-basilica. The Frisian poet Gysbert Japicx is buried at the entrance on the left. A bust was placed in front of him in 1823 as a memorial statue. The church is quite long, over 68 meters and has beautiful choir stalls and a pulpit with carvings. 

*Here you could walk a bit into the Kerkstraat. This will take you to the Orphanage and further on to the Poorhouse (Hendrick Nannes and Catrijn Epes).

Keep right outside the Martinikerk and you will arrive at the Grote Kampen. Via a staircase you can enter the Hoge Bolwerk, fortress of the city. On the left is the Jewish Cemetery (1786-1829). The tombstones disappeared in WWII and a low fence has now been placed around the plot. 

Turn right onto the Hoge Bolwerk, which is a green national monument. It is a remnant of the city's 16th century defenses. Together with the canals, the rampart is a protected cityscape. 

*Here you could turn left to visit the Julianapark on the Snekerstraat in Boslward. 

At the end of the Bolwerk, turn right across the Snekerpoort (follow the curvature of the road to the left) and you will arrive at the Broereplein. Here is the oldest church in the city, the 13th century monastery church of the Friars Minor. On May 8, 1980, the church was destroyed by a fierce fire. A glass roof was installed in 2006. Now the church is used for exhibitions, weddings or concerts. 

The Bat Fountain, one of the eleven Frisian fountains, was installed in front of the Broerekerk in 2018 (the year that Leeuwarden was European Capital of Culture). The sculpture was made by the Belgian artist Johan Creten. 

Walk to the end of Broereplein and turn right (at Slagerij Anema) into Heeremastraat. Here on the left is Heeremastate, currently used as a bed & breakfast. Previously inhabited by an influential Heerema family. The building in this form dates from around 1830. 

Continue on Heeremastraat and Hoogstraat. The Hoogstraat in a city indicates that it is a high street. In Bolsward, it is located on a mound, just like the town hall. Around 800 BC. the trading village of Bodelswerd developed on and around this mound. The Martini Church in Bolsward also stands on a mound. There was also a third terp, on which the city was founded well before the era. In 1455 Bolsward received city rights. 

At the end of the Hoogstraat you come to the Grootzand. Ships used to come here to enter the city. If you turn right, you walk to the heart of Bolsward. you are now in the shopping street and also get a view of the beautiful town hall.

The town hall was built between 1614 and 1617. It is a richly decorated building from the late Renaissance period. Jacob Gijsberts, father of the poet Gysbert Japicx, helped to design the building and took care of the wood carvings in the council chamber. Until 2011, the building was used as a town hall. The Municipality of Bolsward was incorporated into the larger municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân. In 2021, the town hall will be opened with a new extension as the Cultural Historical Center of the city and the municipality. 

In the CHC'De Tiid\\\' museums, municipality, archive, library and catering come together. 

If you turn left in front of the town hall, you will return to the beginning of the route at it Gysbert Japicxhûs.

*On the left is the Nieuwmarkt. At the end of the street on the right is the Sint Anthony Gasthuis and at the end of the street is the Baptist church. 

 

We hope that you have enjoyed a'amble\\\' through the city of Bolsward and that you have enjoyed the beautiful buildings and cultural wealth. 

*The Gasthuiskerk is located on the Gasthuissingel.