The Stabyhoun, or Stabijhoun or Stabij, is one of the rarest dog breeds in the world. It hails from the Dutch province of Friesland; its origins lie in the forested region of eastern and southeastern Friesland. The breed has been mentioned in Dutch literature dating back to the early 1800s, but it was not until the 1960s that the breed became known outside its native province; the first Stabyhouns left the Netherlands some decades later, in the 2000s. The name Stabijhoun translates roughly to "stand by [me] dog". The dog is considered a Dutch national treasure. Today, there are only a few thousand Stabyhouns worldwide.
A Stabyhoun
"Ús Hûnen" (Our Dogs): sculptures found in the Frisian capital's central park, depicting a Stabij in the background, with Wetterhoun in the foreground.
Two rare Frisian breeds mixed: a Wetterhoun/Stabyhoun
An adult Stabyhoun
Friesland, historically and traditionally known as Frisia, named after the Frisians, is a province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen, northwest of Drenthe and Overijssel, north of Flevoland, northeast of North Holland, and south of the Wadden Sea. As of January 2023, the province had a population of about 660,000, and a total area of 5,753 km2 (2,221 sq mi).
Pier Gerlofs Donia in 1516 as depicted in a 19th-century painting by Johannes Hinderikus Egenberger
The Frisian representative refusing to kneel before Philip II at his coronation
De Alde Feanen National Park
De Fryske Marren
