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Oort Cloud Fountain (Oortwolkfontein) Franeker

Oort Cloud Fountain (Oortwolkfontein) Franeker

Highlight • Monument

Oort Cloud Fountain (Oortwolkfontein) Franeker

Recommended by 47 hikers out of 48

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Location: Franekeradeel, Friesland, Netherlands

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Best Hikes to Oort Cloud Fountain (Oortwolkfontein) Franeker

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2. Franeker Town Hall – Eise Eisinga Planetarium loop from Professorenbuurt

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3. Museum Martena – Eise Eisinga Planetarium loop from Franeker

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Intermediate

Tips

Bloggmaus

September 26, 2025

The fountain is a tribute to the world-famous, Franeker-born astronomer Jan Hendrik Oort. His hypothesis that a 'cloud' of billions of comet-like objects orbits our solar system represented a breakthrough in astronomy. The fountain is constructed as a series of waterfalls cascading from a bowl into the basin along a vertical chain of dark pearls. One of the pearls is silver, like the moon, another is gilded, the color of the sun. The 'Oort cloud' itself is a mist of fine droplets falling from a golden latticework into the bowl.

Translated by Google •

Norb

August 30, 2021

The fountain pays homage to the world-famous astronomer Jan Hendrik Oort, who was born in Franeker. He postulated that our solar system is surrounded by a "cloud" of billions of comet-like objects. The fountain appears as a series of waterfalls that flow vertically into the basin from a bowl along a dark string of pearls.

Translated by Google •

Rogier Van Bunnik 🇳🇱

July 14, 2024

This fountain was designed by the French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel.

The fountain commemorates Jan Hendrik Oort, who was born in Franeker. He was the one who came up with the idea that there would be a cloud of billions of comet-like objects in our solar system. His assumption led to an important breakthrough in astronomy.

The fountain is prominently located in front of the Martinikerk in the centre of Franeker.

Translated by Google •

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Details

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Elevation 50 m

Weather

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Thursday 30 October

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7°C

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Max wind speed: 24.0 km/h

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See hikes here

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Location: Franekeradeel, Friesland, Netherlands

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Oort Cloud Fountain (Oortwolkfontein) Franeker

1. Franeker Town Hall – Eise Eisinga Planetarium loop from Franeker

2. Franeker Town Hall – Eise Eisinga Planetarium loop from Professorenbuurt

3. Museum Martena – Eise Eisinga Planetarium loop from Franeker

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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