Harkema is in the eastern part of Friesland, 9 km north of Drachten.

[4] Harkema was originally a peat excavation settlement.

In the 1960s, Harkema experienced growth and started to attract industry.

[5] Harkema is home to the amateur football club, the Harkemase Boys.

Cyclist Pieter Weening, who was the first Frisian to win a stage in the Tour de France, is from Harkema just as another former cyclist pro, Wiebren Veenstra, is.