Buren (Friesland)

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Buren is the smallest and eastern-most village on the island of Ameland, one of the West Frisian Islands and part of the Netherlands.

[edit] Rixt van het Oerd

Buren is also home to the infamous legend of the witch Rixt van het Oerd (eg. Rixt of Oerd). This old lady would tie a lantern on a cow who she would chase into the dunes. She would hope for a ship to mistake the cow for a lighthouse, thinking it was a safe haven. Instead the ship would run aground on the sand bars along the coastline, leaving its cargo for her to pick up from the beach. One day in a heavy storm, she practiced her reckless way of making extra money and stumbles upon the dead body of a drowned sailor. As she comes closer, it turns out it is her own son, Sjoerd. After realizing what she has done, every time there is now a storm raging over Ameland, she howls out her son's name in the wind.

In remembrance of the legend of Rixt van het Oerd, there is a little statue in the center of Buren.

Ago 500 years the population were pirates and bandits, today they live from touristic (lots of school classes from Germany visits Ameland and stay at Buren.)