Owl plates from Makkum on thatched roofs
Roosma Rietdekkers also makes and supplies owl boards for your thatched roof. In Friesland, this is called the ûleboerd (ûleboerd). A beautiful invention from the past, it was the roof closure at the ends of the ridges of farmhouses. It's a triangular board featuring the image of two swans. This is also where the exit hole for a barn owl or little owl is located. The board protects the thatched roofs and has cultural significance.
Wooden or plastic owl boards
The swans of the ûleboerd are associated with Norse mythology and the Anglo-Saxon legends of fertility and immortality. The ornamental beam or plank between the swans is also called the makelaar (broker). Its shape varies by region in the province of Friesland. The name of the owl board also varies by region. It is called:
- De Wâlden - on the eastern side of the province of Friesland
- The Southwest corner - between Gaasterlân, Sneek and Workum
- The Greidhoeke - the area between Bolsward and Franeker
You can have your owl board custom-made by us, either from plastic or wood.
