Stins in Friesland

A stins is a stone house. This is the last remaining stins tower in Friesland. In the old days the Frisians were free men without a landlord. There were often feuds and fights between them though. So rich people, rich farmers would build themselves a stone house, a stins, to be able to retreat in. This one dates back to 1300, beautifully renovated to it's current state. Later on real houses would be attached to it.

The rich owners in the stins houses got beautiful flowers from far away. The spring flowers you see in the extra. The Dutch call them stins flowers, because they originate from these stinses.