Frise - Definition and Overview

Frise is the name of a département of the First French Empire in the present Netherlands. Frise is the French name for Friesland. It was formed in 1810, when the Kingdom of Holland was annexed by France. Its territory corresponds with the present Dutch province Friesland. Its capital was Leeuwarden. The département was subdivided into the following arrondissements and cantons:

• Leeuwarden, cantons: Bergum, Buitenpost, Dokkum, Dronrijp, Franeker, Hallum, Harlingen, Holwerd and Leeuwarden.
• Heerenveen, cantons: Akkrum, Beetsterzwaag, Heerenveen and Oldeberkoop.
• Sneek, cantons: Bolsward, Hindeloopen, Lemmer, Rauwerd and Sneek.

After Napoleon was defeated in 1814, the département became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.