Hegebeintum

hegebeintumThe terp of Hegebeintum is the highest of Fryslân. The Frisian landscape is filled with terpen, these man made mounds protected the people and their cattle against floods. These mounds were built-up repeatedly with clay, dung and household waste. There are over a 1000 mounds in Fryslân. The city centre of Leeuwarden was also built on 3 mounds. The majority of the mounds have reached heights of 2 – 7 metre above sea level. The mound of Hegebeintum is the highest of them all at almost 9 metre! So if you want to visit a mound, it’s got to be this one.
Around 1000 AD dyke-building had begun which made the mounds less necessary. They remained intact however until the 19th century, when the removal of the fertile soil started, which was used as manure for infertile fields. The mound of Hegebeintum was also partly dug off. The archaeological findings that were found are on display in the visitors centre. For a small fee you can also enter the unusually rich decorated protestant church.

Hegebeintum I Surroundings
Hegebeintum (Show on googlemaps)
Open: Sun 12:00-17:00, Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00 (Apr-Oct) Tue-Sat: 10:00-17:00 (Nov-Mar)
Distance to Leeuwarden (city centre): 21,8 km