Bartlehiem [SEP] named after
Bartlehiem
Bartlehiem is a hamlet, located partially in Noardeast-Fryslân, partially in Tytsjerksteradiel, and partially in Leeuwarden and has around 70 citizens (2006).
History.
Before 2018, the village was part of the Leeuwarderadeel municipality and before 2019 part of the Ferwerderadiel municipality.
Monastery.
The village possibly owes its name to a monastery, which was said to be about half a kilometre to the east of the hamlet. This monastery was named after Bethlehem, later corrupted to Bartlehiem. Another theory is
that the name simply means something like "Home of Bartels", as Hiem is old Dutch for home (compare 'heim' in German).
Elfstedentocht.
Bartlehiem is especially well-known due to the Elfstedentocht for ice skaters, who have to pass through the hamlet twice. Coming from the west from Feinsum through the Feinsumer Feart, a wide ditch. Skaters then pass the famous wooden bicycle and pedestrian bridge of Bartlehiem, after the bridge they skate north over the Dokkumer Ie to Dokkum. On return they