It received city rights in 1268 and is one of the eleven cities in Friesland. It was the fourth city receiving city rights after Stavoren, Hindeloopen and Harlingen. The city was well-known for its excellent location in local trade and its ship-building industry. When the Middelzee silted up, the importance of trade declined and the city focused on its ship-building industry. The city had its own castle, a so called stins, named the Ylostins.
Before 2011, the city was part of the Wymbritseradiel municipality and before 1984 IJlst was an independent municipality.
Name
The name IJlst derives from the name of the river IJ or Ey. The river IJ is the central point of the little city.
IJlst has a railway station located between the cities of Sneek and Stavoren.
