author
W. (Wopke) Eekhoff
1809–1880
A self-taught historian from Leeuwarden, he helped preserve the story of Friesland through archives, local history, and books written for a broad public. His work made him an important early guardian of the region’s memory.
2 Audiobooks
Beschrijving van het Rijks-Planetarium te Franeker Van 1772 tot 1780 uitgedacht en vervaardigd door Eise Eisinga
by Jan Hendrik van Swinden, W. (Wopke) Eekhoff
Beknopte Geschiedenis van Friesland in Hoofdtrekken
by W. (Wopke) Eekhoff
About the author
Born in Leeuwarden on March 2, 1809, he grew into a noted Frisian historian, archivist, bookseller, and publisher. He was largely self-taught, developing a deep interest in history from a young age and building a reputation through historical writing and research.
In 1838 he became city archivist of Leeuwarden, a role he held until his death on February 12, 1880. He is remembered for helping organize and preserve the city’s historical records and for publishing works on Friesland’s past, including local history, biographies, and maps.
His career connected scholarship with public life: he did not write only for specialists, but for readers curious about their region and its heritage. That mix of practical archival work and accessible historical writing is a big reason his name still matters in the history of Leeuwarden and Friesland.