Frisian farmsteads get digital preservation boost with community-driven mapping project
Over 8,000 iconic Frisian farmsteads will be documented in a new digital map, preserving their cultural heritage. Residents and owners can contribute data, while a new guide helps repurpose vacant farmsteads for future use—balancing tradition with modern needs.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Project Name | Pleats Project |
| Initiators | Boerderijenstichting Fryslân, Tresoar, Province of Fryslân |
| Number of Farmsteads | ~8,000 |
| Data Collection Method | Community submissions via online form |
| Data Access | Open data (publicly available) |
| Project Duration | Several years |
| Guide for Redevelopment | Handreiking Transitie Fryske Pleats (PDF, 9.8 MB) |
| Deputy Involved | Eke Folkerts |
| Volunteer Opportunities | Yes (data processing) |
The Province of Fryslân plays a key role in preserving the region’s cultural heritage, including its iconic farmsteads. Through policy frameworks and collaborations with local organizations, it ensures these landmarks are documented, protected, and adapted for future use while maintaining their historical value.
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Launch of the Pleats Project and Guide to Redevelopment of Frisian Farmsteads
How many farmsteads does Fryslân have, what types are there, and what are their characteristics? These questions will soon be answered thanks to an initiative by the Boerderijenstichting Fryslân (Frisian Farmstead Foundation), Tresoar, and the Province of Fryslân. A special map layer will be created to document our Frisian farmsteads on the Cultural-Historical Map (CHK) of the province.
The initiators aim to literally put these farmsteads on the map. Fryslân takes pride in its farmsteads, and their preservation and development are crucial for the cultural-historical and landscape values of the region. After all, what would Fryslân be without its farmsteads? We often refer to them as the “cathedrals of the landscape.”
Community Project
Mapping over 8,000 farmsteads can only be achieved with the help of residents, owners, and enthusiasts. This will be a community effort! All Frisian farmstead owners are invited to submit their farmstead’s details via a form on the Boerderijenstichting Fryslân website. This invitation also extends to historical associations and local historians, who often hold valuable information that can now be shared with a wider audience.
Important for Preservation, Support, and the Future of Farmsteads
This inventory will provide better insight into the number of farmsteads, their locations, types, and the surrounding green spaces, including the farmyard. Deputy Eke Folkerts kicked off the project by filling out a form for a farmstead.
Deputy Eke Folkerts said: “Farmsteads are part of Fryslân. They tell the story of the residents, the generations who worked and lived there. That story is the foundation of today and of future generations. This collaboration will ensure that these stories come together. Let’s do this together!”
The data will be made available as open data, allowing anyone to use it freely. The goal is to eventually include around 8,000 farmsteads in the database. Tresoar is contributing to this initiative by linking to its extensive photo collection, which features countless farmsteads.
A Long-Term Project: Spanning Several Years
After collecting and processing the data, the Boerderijenstichting will link it to the provincial Cultural-Historical Map. The project is expected to take several years. During this time, attention will also be given to identifying missing information. The Boerderijenstichting Fryslân is still looking for volunteer contributors to help process the data! You can sign up via the website.
Guide to Redevelopment of Farmsteads: What Are the Options?
Within the provincial regulations, farmsteads and their yards can be redeveloped for various new functions after agricultural activities cease. Owners may also demolish non-characteristic outbuildings and rebuild homes in their place (space for space). A third option is for owners to transform their farmstead into something new: a transition or redevelopment. The Province of Fryslân, in collaboration with bureau Búgel Hajema, has created a guide outlining the possibilities and rules in these three cases.
Future Perspective for Farmsteads
The goal of the guide is to provide a future perspective for vacant farmsteads within the rules of the province’s environmental decree.
Deputy Eke Folkerts said: “We want to preserve and develop these carriers of our heritage and landscape. Within the rules, there are already many possibilities that are not always well-known. That’s why this guide offers inspiring examples and step-by-step plans for owners and their advisors.”
Photos from the Tresoar Archive
Guide to Transitioning Frisian Farmsteads
- handreiking_transitie_fryske_pleats.pdf (PDF, 9.8 MB)