[3] Sneek is situated in Southwest Friesland, close to the Sneekermeer, and is well known for its canals, the Waterpoort (Watergate, the symbol of the city), and watersports (hosting the annual Sneekweek, the largest sailing event on inland European waterways).

The city is very important in the southwestern part of Friesland (called the Zuidwesthoek, or Southwest Corner).

Sneek was founded in the 10th century as Chud on a sandy peninsula at the crossing site of a dike with an important waterway (called the Magna Fossa in old documents).

In 1970, Mayor L. Rasterhoff of Sneek visited the city of Kurobe and was named an honorary citizen.

The Candyfactory Leaf produces Peppermint under the name KING [nl] as well as chewing gum (Sportlife) and various other sweets.

The name "KING" has nothing to do with the English word 'king'; it stands for Kwaliteit in niets geëvenaard ("Quality equaled by nothing").

Besides that, the supermarket branch Poiesz, clothing brand Gaastra and Frisian gin called beerenburg from Weduwe Joustra are products that have their roots in Sneek.

In 1519–1520, the Frisian warlord and freedom fighter Pier Gerlofs Donia spent his last days in Sneek.

George Simenon's 1937 novel L'assassin, about a doctor who murders his wife and her lover, is set in Sneek.