Often, when Americans ask me where I come from, I’ll answer Friesland. And when they say: “It must be cold there”, and keep on inquiring where Freezeland is, I’ll eloborate that it’s indeed an island near the Arctic circle. Like Iceland.

That’s a tired joke I had to tell lots of times.

But, tonight I learned part of Spitsbergen is called Friesland; or New Friesland rather. Close enough to be an island in the Arctic.

Expeditie Spitsbergen