HARLINGEN, a sea-port town of the United Ne-
therlands, in West Friesland. It stands on the coast of
the Zuyder sea, at the mouth of a large canal, in E.
Long. 5. 14. N. Lat. 53. 9. It was only a hamlet
till about the year 1234, when it was destroyed by the
sea; and being afterwards rebuilt, became a consider-
able town. In 1579, it was considerably enlarged by
the care of William prince of Orange. It is now very
well fortified, and is naturally strong, as the adjacent
country can very easily be laid under water. The city
is square; and the streets are handsome, straight, and
clean, with canals in the middle of them. It has five
gates; four towards the land, and one towards the sea;
but though the harbour is good, yet vessels of great bur-
den cannot get into it until they are lightened, for
want of water. The admiralty college of Friesland has
its seat here. The manufactures are salt, bricks, and
tiles, a considerable trade is also carried on in all sorts
of linen cloth, and the adjacent country yields abun-
dance of corn and good pastures.