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Dongjum (The Netherlands)

Franekeradeel municipality, Fryslân province

image by Jarig Bakker, 24 Aug 2003
Design: J.R. van der Wal and R.J. Broersma, members of the Fryske Rie foar Heraldyk.

Dongjum village (Doanjum)
Dongjum coat of arms

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Dongjum village (Doanjum)

Dongjum (Frisian: Doanjum) is a village in Franekeradeel, Fryslân.
Dongjum has 500 inhabitants. The village originated by the construction of a dike north of the city of Franeker in Roman times. In the Middle Ages a church was built in Dongjum devoted to Mary, mother of Jesus. With that the settlement got village rights. St. Mary's Day, 13 May (according to the new calendar 23 May), has been the market-day. South of the village was the fortified stately house (stins) of the Goslinga's. Sicco van Goslinga (1664-1731) was an eminent member of this family. He was 40 years a member of the States General and ambassador in France. He rests in a tomb in the Doanjumer church. He said once (or twice): "Mei Fryske trou en Hollanske dukaten kin men fier komme." (With Frisian fidelity and Holland ducates one can go far). The stins was for a long time recognizable for the wide ditches which surrounded it. In the last years of the 20th century the ditches were filled up, for the construction of the E10 motorroad swallowed it. In the last part of the 19th century the contrasts between the farmers and laborers came to a head. Dongjum was for a long time dominated by this contrast, and got the nickname "read Doanjum"- red Dongjum. On the last Sunday in May the Dongjumer market is held every year. This is a quiet period on the farms. On Market Day an important game of "keatsen" organized by the Keninklike Nederlânske Keatsbûn is being held - an event the village is very proud of. In the last decennia people have settled in Dongjum, who work in Franeker or other big settlements. The old contrasts have disappeared, for together it's more fun to create a living village!
coat of arms: per bend sinister a. in red three silver fleur-de-lis; b. in silver three red roses, buttoned gold and barbed green.
Flag: diagonally divided red and white; in red a white lily of 2/3 flag height and in white a red rose of 6/10 flag height.
The division of the coat of armsis derived from the coat of arms of the Royal Dutch Keatsbûn. Instead of the three silver and the three red keatsballs fleurs-de-lis and roses have been adopted. The fleurs-de-lis have been taken from the arms of the Goslinga's (where they were gold on blue). It is an old symbol, connected with the Virgin Mary. It can also be seen as a representation of the notables in Dongjum and surroundings.
The roses were derived from the old coat of arms of Franekeradeel. They symbolize the fertility of the land. In the courtyards grew wild roses. They are symbols of love. In the last century it also became the symbol of Socialism, the political conviction of a lot of Doanjumers. By the green small petals the colors red - green represent the Doanjumer keatsers.
Design: J.R. van der Wal and R.J. Broersma, members of the Fryske Rie foar Heraldyk.
Source: the Doanjumer website.
Genealogysk Jierboekje 2002.
Jarig Bakker, 24 Aug 2003

Dongjum coat of arms

from the Doanjumer website.