It is only 22 km from the district seat and bigger town Neubrandenburg, but still Friedland remains a local center for surrounding communities like Galenbeck (Kotelow, Lübbersdorf, Schwichtenberg), Brunn and Boldekow, and has approximately 6,500 citizens. The former municipality Genzkow was merged into Friedland in May 2019.
It was founded in 1244 by the Prince-electors Otto and Johann of Brandenburg, then having the name Vredeland.
Johann Heinrich von Thünen (1783–1850), agriculturist and economist, led the Liepen family in 1806 and married the Friedland mayor and estate owner Helena Sophia Berlin.[2]
Daniel Runge, (DE Wiki) (1804–1864), theologian and parliamentarian, attended the scholars’ school here
Ernst Boll (1817–1868), natural scientist, was a house teacher in Friedland
Fritz Reuter (1810–1874), low German poet, studied at the school in Friedland
Wilhelm Sauer (1831–1916), organ builder, spent his youth in Friedland