FRANEKER, a town of the Netherlands, in the province of Friesland, on the Trekschuyten canal, between Harlingen and Leeu warden, 10 m. W. of the latter; pop. in 1867, 6,293. In 1585 a university was established here, which long occupied a high position among the learned institutions of Europe, and counted among its professors such men as Schultens, Hemsterhuis, and Valckenaer. Napoleon I. abolished it in 1811; in 1816 an athenæum was established in its place, which was subsequently changed into a gymnasium, with which a physiological cabinet, a botanical garden, &c., are connected. The university buildings have been appropriated for an insane asylum.