This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website

Oude Leije (Netherlands)

Leeuwarderadeel municipality, Fryslân province

Last modified: 2003-09-20 by jarig bakker
Keywords: oude leije |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors



village Oude Leije by Jarig Bakker, 21 May 1999
first mentioned 1708

See also:

Oude Leije village (Âldeleie)

Oude Leije (Âldeleie) is on the border of three municipalities: Ferwerderadiel, het Bildt and Leeuwarderadeel; since 1975 it has been assigned to Leeuwarderadeel. If the "Elfstedentocht" skating-marathon is being held it passes through this little village.
Description of the flag: three equally wide horizontal stripes red - yellow - blue.
In olden days Oude Leije had a little harbour (before the enclosure of Het Bildt), and its see-going ships had this flag, as observed by Hesman, who drew it in his manuscript of 1708. The colors were later used for the new municipal flag of Het Bildt.
Source: Sierksma's Nederlands Vlaggenboek, 1962 [sie62].
Jarig Bakker, 21 May 1999

I sent this villageflag to the list based on the book of Mr. Sierksma (Nederlands Vlaggenboek, 1962), without knowing whether it was really in use. According to the Genealogysk Jierboekje 2001 it has been readopted.
Oude Leije (Frisian: Âldeleie) is a village in Leeuwarderadeel municipality, Fryslân. In 1958 it was a hamlet, belonging to the villages of Finkum and Hallum (Ferwerderadiel), but oriented on Vrouwenparochie (Het Bildt), on the border of three municipalities: Ferwerderadiel, Leeuwarderadeel, and Het Bildt. The parts of the village in Ferwerderadiel and Leeuwarderadeel received village-status on 1 Jan 1974 and 1 Jan 1975.
Nickname: "Hier troch de pet" - hair through the cap. Âldlaaie (very long a according to my cousin) was once the "Gehenna" of Fryslân. There were many pubs, and quite a few skirmishes. In c. 1800 the village was used as an exile for orphans, widows, and outcasts. In de beginning of the 20th century the village added new dimensions to the fur-industry.
Someone saw a cat walking on the street and called "Poes, Poes!", whereupon he was immediately arrested, as many cats were caught and their skins sold to some fur-industrialist. My dad was born in Äldleie "onder Vrouwbuurt" - in the part in Het Bildt.
At present all of the village seems to belong to Leeuwarderadeel (but I wouldn't be surprised if some parts were simply forgotten)
CoA: in blue a knife with a silver blade and a red handle; with a golden knob and dividing piece; and a golden sheath, both placed per fess.
Flag: three equally wide horizontal stripes red - yellow - blue.
Oude Leije originally was considered as a part of Het Bildt; at the same time as the other villages of Het Bildt this village received a CoA. This was based on the old rime: "In mes mei in skai, is 't w