Editing Ameland

{{Refimprove|date=May 2015}}
{{Short description|Municipality and island of the Netherlands}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
<!-- Name and transliteration -->| name               = Ameland
| native_name        = {{native name|fy|It Amelân|icon=no}}
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipality]]
<!-- Images, nickname, motto -->| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
  | total_width            = 280
  | border                 = infobox
  | perrow                 = 1/2/2
  | caption_align          = center
  | image1                 = Ameland aerial view from the west.jpg
  | alt1                   = Aerial view Ameland (west)
  | caption1               = Aerial view Ameland (west)
  | image2                 = Ameland Beach.jpg
  | alt2                   = Ameland Beach
  | caption2               = Ameland Beach
  | image3                 = Museum sorgdrager -1508854191.jpg
  | alt3                   = Museum Sorgdrager
  | caption3               = Museum Sorgdrager
  | image4                 = 2012-05-05 Ameland 16.JPG
  | alt4                   = Lighthouse
  | caption4               = [[Bornrif|Lighthouse]]
  | image5                 = Altes Feuer Bornrif.JPG
  | alt5                   = Maritime Museum
  | caption5               = Maritime Museum
  }}
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = Flag of Ameland.svg
| flag_size          = 100x67px
| flag_alt           = 
| image_shield       = Coat of arms of Ameland.svg
| shield_size        = 100x80px
| shield_alt         = <!-- Maps, coordinates -->
| image_map          = Ameland locator map municipality NL 2018.png
| map_alt            = Highlighted position of Ameland in a municipal map of Friesland
| map_caption        = Location in Friesland
| coordinates        = {{coord|53|27|N|5|46|E|region:NL|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Friesland]]
| government_footnotes = 
| governing_body     = [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|Municipal council]]
| leader_party       = [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]]
| leader_title       = [[Burgemeester|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = {{ill|Leo Pieter Stoel|nl}}
<!-- Geographic information -->| unit_pref          = Metric
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{Dutch municipality total area|dataref}}</ref>
<!-- square kilometers -->| area_total_km2     = {{Dutch municipality total area|Ameland}}
| area_land_km2      = {{Dutch municipality land area|Ameland}}
| area_water_km2     = {{Dutch municipality water area|Ameland}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool 
 |title=Postcodetool for 9163HD 
 |language=nl 
 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> 
 |work=Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland 
 |publisher=Het Waterschapshuis 
 |access-date=7 September 2013 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053543/http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool 
 |archive-date=21 September 2013 
}}</ref>
| elevation_m        = 4
| elevation_max_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_max_m    = 
| elevation_min_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_min_m    = <!-- Population, demographics -->
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Dutch municipality population|dataref}}</ref>
| population_total   = {{Dutch municipality population|Ameland}}
| population_as_of   = {{MONTHNAME|{{Dutch municipality population|popbasemonth}}}} {{Dutch municipality population|popbaseyear}}
| population_density_km2 = {{Dutch municipality population density|Ameland}} <!-- For automatic calculation: auto-->
| population_demonym = Amelander
<!-- Other information -->| timezone1          = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1        = +1
| timezone1_DST      = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = +2
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal codes in the Netherlands|Postcode]]
| postal_code        = 9160–9164
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Area code]]
| area_code          = 0519
| website            = {{URL|1=http://www.ameland.nl}}
| footnotes          = {{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Ramsar
| designation1_offname = Duinen Ameland
| designation1_date = 29 August 2000
| designation1_number = 2212<ref>{{Cite web|title=Duinen Ameland|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/2212|access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref>}}
}}
[[File:gem-Ameland-OpenTopo.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|Topographic map of Ameland, December 2014]]
[[File:Bevolking Ameland.png|upright=1.35|thumb|Historical population 1800–2018]]
[[File:Ameland luchtfoto.jpg|thumb|Aerial photograph of Ameland]]
'''Ameland''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈaːməlɑnt|-|441 Ameland.ogg}}; {{langx|fy|It Amelân}} {{IPA|fy|ət ˈaːməlɔ̃ːn|}})  is a [[municipality]] and one of the [[West Frisian Islands]] off the north coast of the [[Netherlands]]. It consists mostly of [[sand dunes]] and is the third major island of the West Frisians. It neighbours islands [[Terschelling]] to the west and [[Schiermonnikoog]] to the east. This includes the small [[Engelsmanplaat]] and [[Rif (sandbank)|Rif]] sandbanks to the east.

Ameland is, counted from the west, the fourth inhabited Dutch Wadden island and belongs to the [[Friesland]] (''Fryslân'') province. The whole island falls under one municipality, which carries the same name. The Wadden islands form the border between the [[North Sea]] and the [[Wadden Sea]], which lies on the south side of the island file. The municipality of Ameland had a population of {{formatnum:{{Dutch municipality population|Ameland}}}} in {{YEAR|{{Dutch municipality population|popbaseyear}}}}. The inhabitants are called Amelanders.

== Places ==
The island has four villages, and one small part-village.

There were two other villages: [[Oerd]] and [[Sier, Ameland|Sier]], but these were flooded and now lie in the sea.{{when|date=August 2016}} The name of these villages live on in MS ''Oerd'' and MS ''Sier'', which are the names of the ferries to the island. From west to east:
* [[Hollum]], the most populated village, located on the west coast, home to the island's [[Bornrif|lighthouse]]
* [[Ballum]], smallest village, location of the island's airfield, [[Ameland Airport]]
* [[Nes, Ameland|Nes]], the second largest of the island, a vibrant tourist village with many hotels, also home to Burgemeester Waldaschool (the island's secondary school),<ref>{{cite web|title=Burgemeester Waldaschool|url=http://www.bws-ameland.nl/|publisher=BWS Ameland}}</ref> and [[ferry]] services from [[Holwert]] on the mainland
* [[Buren, Friesland|Buren]], located at the centre of the island, includes Ameland's beach

== Population ==
The population of each village of the island {{as of|2017|lc=y}}:

{| class="toccolours" style="margin: 0 2em 0 2em;"
|'''Name'''||ALIGN="right"|'''Population'''
|-
|[[Hollum]]||ALIGN="right"|1,165
|-
|[[Nes, Ameland|Nes]]||ALIGN="right"|1,155
|-
|[[Buren, Friesland|Buren]]||ALIGN="right"|715
|-
|[[Ballum]]||ALIGN="right"|350
|}

== History ==
First mentioned as Ambla in the 8th century, it paid [[tribute]] to the county of [[Holland]] until in 1424 its lord, [[Ritske Jelmera]], declared it a "free lordship" (''vrijheerschap''): the [[Lordship of Ameland]].

Although Holland, Friesland and the [[Holy Roman Empire|Holy Roman Emperor]] contested this quasi-independent status, it remained a free lordship until the ruling family, [[Cammingha]], died out in 1708. After that, the Frisian [[stadtholder]] [[John William Friso, Prince of Orange]], became lord of Ameland and after him, his son the stadtholder of all the Netherlands, [[William IV, Prince of Orange]], and his grandson, [[William V, Prince of Orange]].

Only in the constitution of 1813 was the island finally integrated into the Netherlands into the province of [[Friesland]]. The [[monarchy of the Netherlands]] still maintain the title ''Vrijheer van Ameland'' today.

In 1871–72, a [[levee|dike]] was built between Ameland and the mainland by a society for the reclamation of Frisian land from the sea. The dike ran from Holwert to Buren and was {{convert|8.7|km|0|abbr=on}} long. The province and the Dutch realm each paid 200,000 [[guilder]]s. In the end, it was unsuccessful; the dike did not prove to be durable and in 1882, after heavy storms in the winter, repairs and maintenance of the dam were stopped. The dike can still be partially seen at low tide. The dam at Holwert is the beginning of this dike.

In 1940, German troops were ferried to the island and within hours Ameland was under the control of the German Army. Due to its limited military value, the Allies never invaded Ameland. The German forces on the island did not surrender until 2 June 1945, almost a full month after the defeat of [[Nazi Germany]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2014}}

=== 2023 MV ''Fremantle Highway'' fire ===
{{Main|MV Fremantle Highway#2023 fire}}
[[File:Fremantle Highway fire disaster 2023-07-27 OpenSeaMap.png|thumb|location on 27 July 2023]]
In July 2023, a fire on the Panamanian flagged cargo ship [[MV Fremantle Highway|MV ''Fremantle Highway'']] carrying over 3,700 cars off the coast of Ameland left one sailor dead and 22 others injured.<ref>{{cite news |last=Holligan |first=Anna |date=26 July 2023 |title=Ameland rescue: Ship with 3,000 cars in deadly fire off Dutch coast |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66310280 |work=BBC News |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Offenbar fast 500 E-Autos auf brennendem Frachter |trans-title=Apparently almost 500 electric cars on the burning freighter |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/europa/frachter-bergungsplan-102.html |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=tagesschau.de |language=de}}</ref>

== Nature ==
Like all West and East Frisian Islands, Ameland is a unique piece of nature. The profusion of different plants on the island is caused by the immense variety of landscapes. One of the scenic areas is the '''Oerd''', a large complex of dunes which is still expanding by the year. Because of the differing landscapes and types of flora, over 60 different species of birds are sitting there every year. At the eastern part of the Oerd lies a beach plain called the Hon.
Besides dunes and beaches, Ameland has some woods, like the ''Nesser bos'' ("Wood of Nes").

==Transport==
Most travelers reach the island by ferry from Holwert on the mainland of [[Friesland]], but there is also an airport near Ballum ([[Ameland Airport]]). A bus service connects the ferries from Hollum/Ballum (route 130) and Buren/Nes (route 132). When the sea between Friesland and Ameland is at [[low tide]], one can walk across (see [[mudflat hiking]]).

==Notable people==
[[File:DenkmalHiddeDirksKatHollum230718FotoAKaiser.jpg|120px|thumb|Statue of Hidde Dirks Kat]]
The following people were born on Ameland:
* [[Ritske Jelmera]] (1383 in Ternaard – 1450) a Frisian chieftain who ruled the island of Ameland 
*  {{ill|Hidde Dirks Kat|de}}, whaler
* [[Johannes de Jong]] (1885 in Nes – 1955), [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht|Archbishop of Utrecht]] 1936/1955
* [[Hannes de Boer]] (1899 in Hollum – 1982), long jumper, participated in the [[1924 Summer Olympics|1924]] and [[1928 Summer Olympics|1928 Olympic Games]]
* [[Sjoerd Soeters]] (born 1947 in Nes), postmodern architect
* [[Pieter Mosterman]] (born 1967 in Nes), a research Scientist and academic in the USA 
* [[Jan Bruin]] (born 1969 in Hollum), retired Dutch soccer player.

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Hervormde Kerk in Hollum (Ameland).jpg|Hervormde Kerk in Hollum, Ameland
File:Ameland - Bornrif.JPG|Bornrif lighthouse
File:Swimmingpool at Ameland - panoramio.jpg|alt=Swimmingpool at Ameland|Abandoned swimmingpool at Ameland
File:Ameland aerial view Hollum beach dunes.jpg|Ameland, Hollum beach dunes
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Ameland}}
*{{wikivoyage-inline|Ameland}}
*[http://www.ameland.nl/ Official website]
*[http://www.amelanderhistorie.nl/ The history of Ameland]
{{Geographic location
 | Centre    = Ameland
 | North     = ''[[North Sea]]''
 | East      = [[Schiermonnikoog]]
 | South     = ''[[Wadden Sea]]''<br>[[Noardeast-Fryslân]]
 | Southwest = ''[[Wadden Sea]]''<br>[[Waadhoeke]]
 | West      = [[Terschelling]]
}}
{{Dutch municipality Ameland}}
{{Friesland Province}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Frisian Islands}}

[[Category:Ameland| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Friesland]]
[[Category:Islands of Friesland]]
[[Category:West Frisian Islands]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in the Netherlands]]