University of Franeker

Also known as Academia Franekerensis or the University of Friesland, it consisted of departments of Theology, Law, Medicine, Philosophy, Mathematics and Physics.

Among its well-known students was Peter Stuyvesant, last director-general of the Dutch colony of New Netherland, as well as René Descartes.

Initially the university had an excellent reputation, attracting students from far and wide, but from 1700 its fortune changed.

Instead, an Athenaeum illustre was founded, which did not have the right to issue doctoral degrees.

Today, Franeker has no institute of higher education, although postgraduate students from the University of Groningen are permitted to defend their thesis in the Franeker Martinikerk [nl], provided they are Frisian or their thesis subject has a connection to Friesland.