| Settlement Type: | Town and municipality |
| Map Alt: | Highlighted position of Heerenveen in a map of Friesland |
| Coordinates: | 52.9667°N 60°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Netherlands |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Friesland |
| Government Footnotes: | [1] |
| Governing Body: | Municipal council |
| Leader Party: | VVD |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Avine Fokkens-Kelder |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Elevation Footnotes: | [2] |
| Elevation M: | 1 |
| Population Demonym: | Heerenvener |
| Timezone1: | CET |
| Utc Offset1: | +1 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postcode |
| Postal Code: | 8410–8459 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 0513, 0516 |
Heerenveen (pronounced as /nl/, fy|It Hearrenfean pronounced as /fy/) is a town and municipality in the province of Friesland (Fryslân), in the Northern Netherlands. In 2021, the town had a population of 29,790 (1 January) while the municipality had a population 50,859 (1 July).
The town was established in 1551 by three lords as a location to dig peat which was used for fuel, hence the name (heer is "lord", veen is "peat"). Heerenveen was not one of the traditional eleven cities in Friesland (Fryslân) as it did not have so-called city rights. However, it is now one of the larger municipalities of the province.
The windmill Welgelegen or Tjepkema's Molen is the only survivor of seventeen which have stood in Heerenveen.[3]
Population as of 1 January 2018:
Heerenveen (32,900), Akkrum (3406), Aldeboarn (1479), Bontebok (445), De Knipe (1470), Gersloot (280, together with Gersloot-Polder), Hoornsterzwaag (815), Jubbega (3510), Katlijk (630), Luinjeberd (450), Mildam (740), Nes (1104), Nieuwebrug (210), Nieuwehorne (1500), Nieuweschoot (180), Oranjewoud (1610), Oudehorne (840), Oudeschoot (1480), Terband (265) and Tjalleberd (800).
The hamlets are: Anneburen, Birstum, Brongergea, Easterboarn, Jinshuzen, Meskenwier, Oude Schouw (partially), Pean, Poppenhúzen, Schurega, Soarremoarre, Spitsendijk, Sythuzen, Warniahúzen en Welgelegen (partially).
Railway station: Heerenveen
The Heerenveen municipal council consists of 31 seats, which at the 2022 municipal elections divided as follows:[4]
Heerenveen is notable for its world class sports facilities. These include the Abe Lenstra football stadium and the Thialf speed skating arena which was one of the first indoor 400m ice rinks in the world, and where international events draw large crowds. Thialf is also home to the city's ice hockey team, the Heerenveen Flyers. In 2006, the "Sportstad" (Sport City) project was completed, which included a gymnastics hall, swimming pool and an extension to the football stadium, all clustered together. The Abe Lenstra stadium is unusual because its capacity is larger than the number of inhabitants of the town. One of the few football venues to shares this distinction is Stade Félix Bollaert in Lens, France.
The town's football team, SC Heerenveen, plays in the first-tier Eredivisie, topped by the team's biggest achievement when they qualified for the UEFA Champions League in 2000.
Heerenveen's longstanding connection with Rishon LeZion, Israel ended in 2016 after the supporting organizations shut down in both countries.[5]