Eeltsje Hiddes Halbertsma

Eeltsje Hiddes Halbertsma (West Frisian: [ˈeːltsjǝ ˈhɪdəs ˈhɔlbǝtsma]; Dutch: Eeltje Hiddes Halbertsma [ˈeːltɕǝ ˈɦɪdəs ˈɦɑlbǝrtsmaː]; 8 October 1797 – 22 March 1858) was a Frisian writer, poet and physician, member of the Halbertsma family, and the youngest of the Halbertsma Brothers. He became well known when he and his elder brother Justus published the poetry and short story collection De Lapekoer fan Gabe Skroar in 1822. Afterwards, this work was continually expanded, and also came to include contributions by a third brother, Tsjalling, until all the Halbertsma Brothers' prose and poetry was posthumously collected in 1871 to become the famous work Rimen en Teltsjes. This book played a role of crucial importance in the development of a new literary tradition after Western Frisian had been used almost exclusively as a spoken language for three centuries. Of the three Brothers Halbertsma, Eeltsje was probably the most talented, en his poetry especially is still very much admired. His oeuvre included the poem De Alde Friezen, which later became the national anthem of the Western Frisian people.

Life

Youth and background

Eeltsje Hiddes Halbertsma was born on 8 October 1797, in his parents' house on Kowemerk ("Cow Market") street in the village of Grou, in the central part of the Dutch province of Friesland. He was the fourth son of the baker and small-time merchant Hidde Joasts Halbertsma (1756–1809) and his wife Ruerdtsje (or Riurtk) Tsjallings Binnerts (1767–1809). He had three elder brothers: Justus ("Joast") (1789–1869), Tsjalling (1792–1852), and Binnert (1795–1847). Two children who were born later died in early childhood, the little boy in 1803, and the little girl in 1805.