Frisian

Friesland is a province located in the northern part of the Netherlands, known for its distinctive culture, history, and natural landscapes, including lakes, waterways, and coastal areas. The region has a strong sense of identity, which is reflected in its unique language, Frisian, and its long-standing traditions. Friesland is bordered by the North Sea to the northwest, making it an important part of the Dutch maritime history. The capital city, Leeuwarden, is a cultural hub, offering a mix of historical sites, museums, and modern attractions. Friesland is also known for its agricultural activities, including dairy farming and the production of renowned Frisian horses. This province remains a vital area for the preservation of regional customs and the Frisian language.

The Frisian Language

Frisian is a West Germanic language, part of the same branch as English, Dutch, and Low German. Among these, it is most closely related to English, which is why it is often described as the language’s “closest living relative.” The two share similarities in vocabulary and grammar that go back to their common roots in the early medieval North Sea Germanic dialects. For example, words like tsiis (cheese) and brea (bread) in Frisian are immediately recognizable to English speakers.

Historically, Frisian was spoken along much of the North Sea coast, from what is now the Netherlands up into northwestern Germany. Over time, this territory shrank, and today Frisian survives in three main branches: West Frisian, spoken in the Dutch province of Friesland; North Frisian, spoken along the coast and islands of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany; and Saterland Frisian, spoken in a small area of Lower Saxony. West Frisian is by far the largest, with around 400,000 speakers, while the other two have only a few thousand each.

The language has its own standard written form, based on the Latin alphabet with no additional letters, though spelling reflects Frisian’s distinctive vowel-rich sound system. Like other Germanic languages, Frisian makes use of strong and weak verbs, noun plurals, and compound words. Word order follows the Germanic pattern, with verb-second in main clauses and verb-final in subordinate ones. Despite these features, Dutch has strongly influenced Frisian, especially in vocabulary and pronunciation, due to centuries of close contact.

Today, Frisian is an officially recognized language in the Netherlands, taught in schools and used in regional media, but Dutch remains dominant in most public and private life. Younger generations often understand Frisian but prefer to speak Dutch, leading to concerns about long-term decline. In Germany, the smaller Frisian varieties are considered endangered, though local initiatives work to keep them alive. While no longer the expansive coastal language it once was, Frisian remains an important marker of cultural identity for its speakers, linking them to a history that stretches back over a thousand years.

Asterix in Frisian

Frisian translations began in 1978 with Asterix de Goljer (Asterix the Gaul), followed by De gouden sichte (The Golden Sickle) in 1980, De Goaten (The Goths) in 1981, and De grutte kleau (The Great Divide) in 1981. These translations were published by Dargaud Benelux in Brussels and Oberon in Haarlem. Notably, after the first book, the spelling was standardized from ‘un ferhaal fon Asterix de Goljer’ to ‘in ferhaal fan Asterix de Galjer’.

We have heard that new releases in Frisian are on the way.