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Harkema (The Netherlands)

Achtkarspelen municipality, Fryslân province

Shipmate Flagchart : http://www.flagchart.net

Harkema village
Harkema Coat of Arms

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Harkema village

Harkema / De Harkema, 4283 inhabitants, used to be a long village in the 17th/18th century "Harkema-Opeynde". Somehow this village disappeared, but south of it appeared a settlement on the heather-fields, with very simple dwellings. This settlement became the village of Harkema-Opeinde, later renamed to Harkema. The inhabitants are known to be a little rough but religious; its soccer-team Harkemase Boys (Never On Sunday!) is a feared adversary and just became champion in their Saturday first-class league.
The lion on the Coat of Arms and flag of Harkema is derived from the arms of the Harckema family, as it occurs in a churchbench in Augustinusga. Buwe Harckema, the first with that name, did not have arms yet, when he founded the Buwe-monastery in Frogeham. The monastery was very important for this region, especially regarding peat-digging. The red color reminds of heather, the peat-block of the peat-digging and the acorn of the oaks and the Friese Wouden in general.
Source: Wapens en vlaggen in de gemeente Achtkarspelen, Buitenpost, 1999.

Harkema Coat of Arms

from the Achtkarspelen municipal website.