Sneek (Dutch pronunciation: [sneːk]; West Frisian: Snits) is a city southwest of Leeuwarden and the seat of the former municipality of Sneek in the province of Friesland, Netherlands. As of 2011 it is the seat of the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân (Southwest Friesland). The city had approximately 33,855 inhabitants in January 2017. Sneek is situated in Southwest Friesland, close to the , and is well known for its canals, the Waterpoort (Watergate, the symbol of the city), and watersports (hosting the annual , the largest sailing event on inland European waterways). Sneek is one of the ("Eleven cities of Friesland"). The city is very important in the southwestern part of Friesland (called the , or Southwest Corner).