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Oosterbierum (The Netherlands)

Franekeradeel municipality, Fryslân province

by Jarig Bakker, 7 Oct 2004
adopted 2004; design: R.J. Broersma

Oosterbierum village
Oosterbierum Coat of Arms

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Oosterbierum village

Oosterbierum (Frisian: Easterbierrum) is a village in Franekeradeel municipality in (NW) Fryslân province. Oosterbierum used to belong to the former municipality of Barradeel, with c. 610 inhabitants (together with the village Klooster Lidlum). -bierum is from "berim" - house, barn. There are three neighbouring villages: Oosterbierum, Sexbierum, and Pietersbierum, colloquially known as "De Bierumen", Frisian: De Bjirmen. The fourth village, Westerbierum, was swept away in the Middle Ages by flooding.
Oosterbierum was connected to the sea by the "Vischvaart" (fish-canal), which may explain the flounder in the flag. The corn-ear is for the heavy seaclay, which grows fat farmers :-)
Nickname: "koekefretters" - cake-eaters (see Hallum).
I suppose that St. George (St. Joris) was the patron saint of the village, although an old chronicle mentions St. Gregorius as patron saint of the village-church.
Lidlum or Mariëndal was a Norbertine abbey, founded at sea near Tzummarum. The nuns got a convent in Baijum. Lidlum was moved land inward in 1234, and had in 1200 600 inhabitants. It became involved in the feud between Schieringers and Vetkopers, to which Abbot Eelco Liauckama fell victim in 1322, when he was murdered by his own lay brothers. It was demolished by the Watergeuzen in 1572.
Jarig Bakker, 7 Oct 2004

Saint George was on the windvane of the church spire; the Oosterbierumers wanted the cpmplete saint and nothing else... So they got "Sint Joris" on the village Coat of Arms, and his cross on the flag!
Hans van Heijningen, 4 Nov 2004

Oosterbierum Coat of Arms

by Jarig Bakker, 7 Oct 2004
adopted 2004; design: R.J. Broersma