Grietenij
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A grietenij was a forerunner to the gemeente or municipality in Frisia, particularly in Friesland, and also in Groningen which are now a part of the Netherlands. From the end of the 16th century until 1851, there were a total of 30 Grietenijen in Friesland. The term grietenij means the administative district of a grietman. And the term grietman means a man who greets. The grietenijen were found in the counties of Oostergo, Westergo and Zevenwouden. In the municipatility law in 1851, the term grietenij was changed to gemeente or municipality, and the term grietman was changed to bergemeester or mayor. This resulted in consistent terms being used throughout the Netherlands.
[edit] Slow decision making
The thirty grietman and directors of the eleven Frisian cities formed a council that admitted to its slow decision making process. A popular explanation for the expression op zijn elfendertigst, which means at a smail's page, is that that would be taken to these meetings. In reality, the term comes from the weaving industry[1].
[edit] List of grietenijen
The list contains the names of the thirty grietenijen from the 18th century.
- Achtkarspelen
- Aengwirden
- Baarderadeel
- Barradeel
- Dantumadeel
- Doniawerstal
- Ferwerderadeel
- Franekeradeel
- Gaasterland
- Haskerland
- Hemelumer Oldephaert and Noordwolde (later: Hemelumer Oldeferd)
- Hennaarderadeel
- Het Bildt
- Idaarderadeel
- Kollumerland and Nieuwkruisland
- Leeuwarderadeel
- Lemsterland
- Menaldumadeel
- Oost-Dongeradeel
- Opsterland
- Rauwerderhem
- Schoterland
- Smallingerland
- Stellingwerf-Oosteinde (later: Ooststellingwerf )
- Stellingwerf-Westeinde (later: Weststellingwerf )
- Tietjerksteradeel
- Utingeradeel
- West-Dongeradeel
- Wonseradeel
- Wymbritseradeel
