Achtkarspelen
Achtkarspelen is a municipality in Friesland in the northern Netherlands.History
The name Achtkarspelen, literally meaning "eight parishes", is derived from the original eight parishes within the grietenij, namely: Augustinusga, Buitenpost, Drogeham, De Kooten, Kortwoude, Lutkepost, Surhuizum and Twijzel. Achtkarspelen held a separate status within Friesland for many years. In the Middle Ages Achtkarspelen fell under the Bishopric of Münster, meanwhile the rest of Friesland was a part of the Bishopric of Utrecht.
The grietenij Achtkarspelen became a municipality in 1851 as a result of the Municipality Act of Minister of the Interior Johan Rudolph Thorbecke.Population centres
The administrative centre in the municipality is Buitenpost.
| Dutch name | West Frisian name | Population |
| Augustinusga | Stynsgea | 1332 |
| Boelenslaan | Boelensloane | 1145 |
| Buitenpost | Bûtenpost | 5785 |
| Drogeham | Droegeham | 1751 |
| Gerkesklooster-Stroobos | Gerkeskleaster-Strobos | 1140 |
| Harkema | De Harkema | 4235 |
| Kootstertille | Koatstertille | 2595 |
| Surhuisterveen | Surhústerfean | 5810 |
| Surhuizum | Surhuzem | 1371 |
| Twijzel | Twizel | 1093 |
| Twijzelerheide | Twizelerheide | 1889 |
Notable people
