Jonkerslân is a village in Opsterland municipality, Fryslân
province, with (2000) 300 inhabitants).
In 1988 Jonkerslân became a separate village, and the Fryske
Rie foar Heraldyk designed a village coat of arms.
coat of arms: per pale of three pieces 1. red in chief a golden fleur-de-lis;
2. Blocked of silver and black in two rows, each of twelve lying blocks;
3. green, in chief a golden oak-leaf.
Flag: the hoist is blocked white -black; the fly is red with a green
triangle, charged with a yellow fleur-de-lis.
The blocked pale (peat-blocks) point at peat-digging; black for peat blocks;
white for the white cotton-grass, the peat marshes and the potholes. This
symbol occurs too on the coat of arms of the "polderboard" "Het 4de en 5de
Veendistrict". The pale can also be seen as the road and canals, via which
the peatblocks were transported from Langezwaag to Gorredijk (Jonkerslân
was formerly a hamlet under Langezwaag). Red
symbolizes heather, but also the Dekema family. Members of that family
took the initiative to the peat-digging here, and even had a house here.
The Dekema-arms also gave the fleur-de-lis to Jonkerslân. After the
peat-digging the soil was adequate for agricultural purposes, especially
meadows. That is reflected by the green color. On green a golden acorn
because there are many oaks in the village.
The flag is a simplification of the arms. The green triangle points
at the change from marshy lands to meadows. The lily is of the "Jonker"
(squire) Dekema, who gave his name to the village.
Design: R.J. Broersma
Source: Genealogysk Jierboekje 1994.
De Woudklank (local newspaper), 30 Jul 1998.
Jarig Bakker, 16 Sep 2003