Opsterland is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands.

Population centres

• Bakkeveen • Beetsterzwaag • Drachten-Azeven • Frieschepalen • Gorredijk • Hemrik • Jonkerslân • Langezwaag • Lippenhuizen • Luxwoude • Nij Beets • Olterterp • Siegerswoude • Terwispel • Tijnje • Ureterp • Wijnjewoude Drachten-Azeven is an industrial zone of Drachten located in Opsterland.

Hamlets

The hamlets within the municipality are: Ald Beets, Allardsoog (partially), De Hanebuert, De Koaibosk, Easterein, Foarwurk, Haneburen, Heidehuizen, Hemrikerverlaat, Klein Groningen, Kortezwaag, Moskou (partially), Nieuwe Vaart, Petersburg (partially), Rolbrêge, Selmien, Sparjebird, Ulesprong, Ureterp aan de Vaart, Vosseburen, Welgelegen (partially), Wijngaarden and Wijnjeterpverlaat.

Topography

Map of the municipality of Opsterland, June 2015

International relations

Twin towns — sister cities

Opsterland is twinned with: The choice of twinning with both an Israeli city and a Palestinian one is Opsterland's modest contribution to trying to solve the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. As well as bilateral contacts with both of their partners, the Dutch officials try to encourage trilateral meetings and induce greater contact between Ra'anana and Beit Sahour, which are located at a short geographical distance from each other but are separated by conflict and mutual mistrust. In 2012 Francisca Ravestein, Nahum Hofree, Hani Al-Hayik – the mayors, respectively, of Opsterland, Ra'anana and Beit Sahour – jointly inaugurated a photo exhibition at the municipal building in Opsterland.

Notable people

Sport

Gallery