Franeker in Northern Dutch Provinces

17km (11 miles) W of Leeuwarden

Once an important Frisian cultural and trading center, Franeker is today an enchanting small town. A young Peter Stuyvesant, who would later govern the Dutch New Netherland (New York State) colony from 1646 to 1664, studied at the now-closed university here. In the center of town, stop to admire the Stadhuis (Town Hall), from 1591, a fine example of Northern Dutch Renaissance architecture.