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Rien (The Netherlands)

Littenseradiel municipality, Fryslân province

image by Jarig Bakker, 7 Sep 2003
adopted 1999; Design: J.C. Terluin and R.J. Boersma.

Rien village
Rien coat of arms

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Rien village

Rien, village in Littenseradiel municipality, Fryslân province. It used to be in the former municipality of Hennaarderadeel, first as a hamlet under Itens-Lutkewierum, since 1954 as a separate village. It was noted for its horse-market. Population (1958): 175; (1974): 134. It was also known for its "IJsherberg", Ice-tavern - in olden days stores in cities needed ice to keep their perishable foods fresh; this had to be transported from the Frisian Lakes, for a city like Franeker or Leeuwarden a rather long haul, so at regular intervals the ice-transporters had a short rest at such an "ijsherberg". Geert Mak has written a book about the Amsterdam cultural center known as "De IJsbreker", which had a similar function for the long haul from Weesp to Amsterdam city.
Rien coat of arms: in green a golden chevron, on top with an erased swan-neck and an erased horse-head, facing each other, both silver, in base with a golden corn-sheaf.
Flag: five equally wide horizontal stripes of green and white; a yellow hoist-triangle with the point at 11/15 flag length and towards the hoist lengthened with 1/3 flag length; the yellow charged with a green hoist-triangle with the point at 6/15 flag length, this triangle charged with a yellow corn sheaf of 1/2 flag height.
The village is on the green dike on the so-called island of Easterein.
Near that village is the lock known as the "Rienstersyl", represented by the green chevron in the coat of arms. The swan-neck points at the "zwanejacht", connected to the lock (see: Mantgum). The horse-head symbolizes the horse-market, which was held here annually. The corn-sheaf is from the arms of the Rheen-family, which gave its name to the village.
In the flag the corn-sheaf and the lock are central. The silver elements on the arms are here represented by two white stripes.
Design: J.C. Terluin and R.J. Broersma, members of the Fryske Rie foar Heraldyk.
Source: Genealogysk Jierboekje 2001.
Encyclopedie van Friesland, 1958.
Jarig Bakker, 7 Sep 2003

Rien coat of arms

from Wapens en Flaggen fan Littenseradiel, booklet of the municipality.