The northeast of Friesland is the example of what Germans so aptly call a "Geheimtipp". The area is still largely undiscovered, very varied and offers something for everyone. What more do you want!

Nowhere in Friesland will you find an area with so much variation in landscape and nature: the unique, semi-open landscape of the Northern Frisian Forests (designated as National Landscape) with adjacent National Park De Alde Feanen; the vast "terpen" area with its beautiful views; Lauwersmeer National Park; and, just around the corner’ the spectacular Wadden Sea World Heritage Site and the wonderful islands of Schiermonnikoog and Ameland.

Northeast Fryslân is an area where you can really experience peace and quiet. Cycling, walking, sailing or just lazing around. Enjoy the beautiful landscapes and unique nature reserves. Taste the rich cultural history, which is shown in, among other things, the 20 (!) Smaller and larger museums in the area.

But it’s not just peace and quiet. The area also offers plenty of activity for young and old: sailing, (kite) surfing, the largest climbing park in Europe and many fun and spectacular events. And Dokkum, one of the famous Eleven Cities, is a bustling center, especially during the tourist season. In a beautiful historic ambiance, you will find lots of beautiful, nice and surprising shops, cozy terraces and attractive restaurants.

For many visitors, Friesland is synonymous with the water-rich southwest of the province. Friesland owes its fame as a water sports province par excellence to this beautiful area. And that is not surprising: an extensive system of lakes, ponds, and canals, a variety of cozy water sports locations and the IJsselmeer "just around the corner". A paradise for water sports enthusiasts! Often referred to as the "Friese merengebied"

But Southwest Friesland is much more than just water. Even without a boat, canoe or surfboard, the area is very worthwhile. The beautiful, wide lake area is also great for cycling, on foot or by car. Enjoy the silence, nature and the beautiful views.

You will find a completely different atmosphere in Gaasterland: a rolling landscape with a wonderful variety of forests, open areas and transitions between them. Unique for the Netherlands are the cliffs that in some places protrude up to ten meters above the IJsselmeer. In one of them, The Red Cliff, the famous Battle of Warns took place in 1345.

In addition to tranquility and space, excellent water sports, beautiful landscapes, and beautiful nature reserves, Southwest Friesland also has a rich cultural history. You will find no less than six of the Eleven Frisian cities here, each with its own charm: the bustling Sneek, the tranquil IJlst, the unique Sloten, the old Stavoren, the special Hindeloopen, and the quirky Workum.

Nowhere is the age-long struggle against the water more "present" in the landscape than in the Northwest of Friesland. The age-old mounds, and the impressive contemporary Wadden dike are the most striking. Less visibly present are the many old and historic dikes that wind their way through the area, among which the famous Slachtedyk.

In the Middle Ages, the northwestern part of Friesland was still an island, Westergo. It was enclosed by the Middelzee and the Marne, two sea arms that came together between Bolsward and Sneek and gradually silted up and poldered. The history of its origins has resulted in a beautiful area with alternating ’old’ and ’new’ land, an unprecedented vastness, picturesque villages and three fascinating cities: Bolsward, one of the two Frisian Hanseatic cities; Franeker, the second city in the Netherlands with a university; and Harlingen, port city and gateway to the Waddensea UNESCO World Heritage.

On the shores of the IJsselmeer lies the only real seaside resort of Fryslân: Makkum, which is often called the ’twelfth city’ of Fryslân for good reason. Makkum is renowned for it’s so-called "Makkumer Aardewerk" (pottery) and nowadays also it’s superyacht shipyard of Feadship.

Therefore, Northwest Friesland has a lot to offer for young and old. You will find a breathtaking landscape, space, tranquility, nature, and rich cultural history; you can cycle, walk, sail, sail, surf, shop, go out, buy a superyacht, and much more.

Between Leeuwarden, Drachten, Heerenveen, and Sneek, the four largest towns of the province, lies the beating heart of Friesland. The area is enclosed and intersected by a number of highways, railways and the Princess Margriet Canal. From here you have the whole of Friesland, with all its variety and variation, within reach.

But the area also has more than enough to offer for a shorter or longer stay. Water sports have traditionally played an important role in the area. Grou and Earnewâld were the first real water sports villages in the province and the Snekermeer is perhaps the most known lake in the Netherlands.

Drachten, Heerenveen, and Leeuwarden nowadays also focus on water sports, but have much more to offer. You will find an extensive range of shops, museums, theaters, cinemas, cafés, restaurants, etc. In Leeuwarden, this is also accompanied by a beautiful historic ambiance.

In addition to the crowds off and on the water and the bustling cities, the area also has a completely different face. Outside the large (water sports) centers you will find an oasis of tranquility, picturesque villages, a beautiful wide landscape, and beautiful nature reserves. The 500 hectare nature reserve south of Aldeboarn, De Deelen, is very special. Just like De Alde Feanen National Park (south of Earnewâld), this area was created as a result of large-scale peat extraction in the olden days.

Friesland is more than just lakes, mounds, dikes and the Eleven cities, it is also an area of ​​peat reclamation, heathlands, forests, and streams. Together they form the unique landscape of Southeast Friesland.

It is here that Friesland slowly changes transforms into Drenthe and Overijssel. In terms of landscape, but also in terms of cultural history and language. South of the river Tsjonger is the " Stellingwerven", which were independent until 1504. A large part of the population speaks Stellingwerfs, a language that is more related to Drents, Gronings and Flat German than to Frisian.

Southeast Friesland houses a number of well-known touristic highlights: Bakkeveen, Appelscha, the Drents Friese Wold, Noordwolde, Oldeberkoop, Beetsterzwaag, and Oranjewoud. There you will find beautiful woodland and heathland areas, stately country houses, extensive cycling and walking paths, galleries, museums and attractions for children. But the less well-known parts of the area are also very worthwhile. Take for example "De Frije Wiken", a beautiful and still largely undiscovered area between the Opsterlandse Compagnonsvaart and De Tsjonger. Just like in De Grote Veenpolder, west of Wolvega, cultural history and nature merge almost unnoticed. The large-scale peat extraction in both areas has also led to a system of waterways, which nowadays form part of the Turfroute, a beautiful recreational boating route through Southeast Friesland, Southwest Drenthe and Northwest Overijssel.

The Wadden area is unique in the world. It is obvious that the largest part has been designated by UNESCO as World Heritage. The landscape was created after the last ice age, around 7000 years ago. In geological terms that is very young. And the landscape is still changing, almost as you look at it.

The Wadden are also unique in terms of living nature. There is no comparable wealth and variation of flora and fauna anywhere else in the world. No fewer than 10,000 different plants and animals live in the area. Permanent residents, but also frequent visitors: 10 to 12 million migratory birds use the area every year in spring and autumn.

. The Wadden islands, that form a natural boundary between Waddensea and Northsea, offer a pleasant mix of nature, tranquility, cultural history. Charming villages, beautiful beaches, forests, dunes, events, entertainment and all kinds of sporting activities. Despite similarities, each and every island unmistakably has its own atmosphere. In fact, the Wadden Sea region cannot really be captured in words. It has to be lived, experienced, and tasted on the spot.

Friesland: undoubtedly the most idiosyncratic province of the Netherlands. And according to many, also the most beautiful. It is obvious that Friesland is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. Although it can be quite busy in some places in the summer season, Friesland is generally synonymous with space and tranquility. Nowhere in the Netherlands will you find such a wide variety in landscapes as in Friesland. The impressive tidal area of ​​the Wadden Sea, the Wadden Islands with their endless sandy beaches, the beautiful, still largely undiscovered "terpengebied", the unique scenic landscape of the Northern Frisian Forests, the forests in the southeast of the province and in the breathtaking sloping Gaasterland, the beautiful IJsselmeer coast and of course the famous Frisian Lakes.

The beautiful, varied landscape goes side by side with a rich and varied nature. Four out of a total of twenty National Parks are (partly) in Friesland: Schiermonnikoog, the Lauwersmeer area, the Âlde Feanen and the Drents Friese Wold. And the entire wadden region was even recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site in 2009. In addition to those large areas, Friesland also has numerous small scenic jewels, which are managed by It Fryske Gea or Natuurmonumenten. The rich cultural history is visible and palpable almost everywhere in Friesland: mounds with ancient medieval churches, old dikes, mills, pumping stations, peat excavations, canals, waterways and the renowned Frisian Eleven cities. In addition, Friesland has numerous small-scale and often very charming museums that illuminate the local history in an original way.

But Friesland has more to offer than just past and rich heritage! Museums for contemporary art, galleries, sculpture gardens, etc. Festivals in Friesland? Choose: music, theatre, opera ... Events in Friesland? The Elfstedentocht, the Sneekweek, kûtsjesilen or the PC, the Wimbledon of "kaatsen"... But there are many other events in Friesland, large and small.

Friesland: the most diverse and complete province of the Netherlands. Friesland has something on offer to everyone: young, old, families with children, lovers of tranquility and space, but also those who want a little more action. Friesland is everything: beautiful landscapes, beautiful nature, a rich culture, plenty of activity and a friendly atmosphere. And in Friesland everything is possible: cycling, walking, shopping and good food; boundless sailing, sailing, rollerblading or horse riding; lazing on the beach, kite surfing, yachting and swimming; ice skating, ice sailing, eating ice cream, having a drink on a terrace ...

Welcome to Friesland!

Harlingen is de enige echte zeehavenstad van Friesland. Toen de Zuiderzee  grotendeels afgesloten werd met de afsluitdijk en veranderde in het IJsselmeer hadden de "concurrerende" zeehavensteden zoals Makkum, Workum, Hindeloopen en Stavoren het nakijken. Harlingen heeft zich daarna destemeer ontwikkeld als zeehaven. Het is de vertrekplaats van de boot naar Terschelling en Vlieland. Hierdoor is het sowieso in Harlingen het hele jaar rond druk met vakantiegangers. Veel daarvan zijn op doorreis naar de eilanden maar ze zouden net zo goed iets langer aan de vaste wal in Harlingen kunnen blijven. Wat te denken van de fantastische monumentale binnenstad met historische wandelroutes. De nieuwe en de oude haven. De tientallen historische schepen van de "bruine vloot". De ambachtelijke bedrijven zoals Havenbrouwerij het Brouwdok. De evenementen zoals de Kerstmarkt in de Zoutsloot of de Tallships-Races-Harlingen.

Kortom, plan je een reisje naar Terschelling of Vlieland, blijf dan ook gerust even hangen in Harlingen. Je krijgt er geen spijt van.

Hieronder nog veel meer informatie over Harlingen.

De stad Harlingen heeft groei en bloei aan de zee te danken. Het was aanvankelijk een buurschap van vissers en schippers die bij het kerkdorp Almenum hoorde. In 1234 zou Harlingen stadsprivileges hebben gekregen. Handel op Engeland, Hamburg, Scandinavië en andere Oostzeelanden bracht voorspoed. In 1500 werd een eerste haven gegraven.

In de tweede helft van de 16de eeuw groeide de stad explosief: zij verviervoudigde in oppervlak, er kwam een vesting omheen en werd voorzien van een tweede ruime binnenhaven. De rijkdom drukte de stad uit in fraaie stadspoorten in renaissancestijl en een stadhuis. De poorten zijn in de 19de eeuw gesloopt. Er kwam een reeks eveneens indrukwekkende ijzeren bruggen voor in de plaats. Aan de Voorstraat staat de 16de-eeuwse raadhuistoren die vaak is vernieuwd. Hij draagt de patroonheilige van de stad, Sint-Michaël. De aartsengel staat ook in de voorgevel van het stadhuis aan de Noorderhaven dat in 1730 door stadsbouwmeester Hendrik Norel in barokstijl is verbouwd.

Aan de zuidzijde van de Noorderhaven staat een aantal pakhuizen, zoals het in oorsprong 17de-eeuwse pakhuis Java, met een fraaie tuitgevel uit de 17de eeuw, en een huis met een trapgevel uit 1694. Het pronkje is het pakhuis bij de Roepersteeg met een trapgevel en gevelstenen met Venus, Ceres, Bacchus en Aeolus. Aan het einde van de Noorderhaven ligt de Grote Sluis die oorspronkelijk uit 1524 dateert, maar daarna verschillende malen is vernieuwd. Op de landhoofden vier schildhoudende leeuwen met stadswapen geplaatst. Aan de noordzijde van de Noorderhaven staan veel voorname woonhuizen en indrukwekkende pakhuizen. Een pand heeft een verrassing op het dak, want de dakkapel wordt geflankeerd door Neptunus en Mercurius. Verder staat er een pand met een bekroning met een gevelbreed fronton waarop voorstellingen van handel en scheepvaart.

Ten noorden van de Noorderhaven ligt de kleine Zoutsloot als waterader van de regelmatige stadsuitbreiding uit het einde van de 16de eeuw. De schilderachtige grachtenhuizen uit de 17de en vooral 18de eeuw zijn systematisch gerestaureerd, ook de bescheidener exemplaren. Aan de oostelijke binnenstadsrand ligt de Engelse Tuin, het stadspark dat vanaf 1843 werd aangelegd op de deels afgegraven vestingwallen, want die waren als werkgelegenheidsproject ontmanteld. Het Franekereind bezit op de kaden een keur aan gevarieerde monumentale panden, onder meer het Heerenlogement en het hoekpand aan de William Boothstraat met een 18de-eeuwse ingangspartij, de fraaiste van Harlingen.

De oudste toren van Harlingen, die van de Grote Kerk of de Dom van Almenum dateert al uit het einde van de 12de eeuw. Het is de tufstenen toren van het oude dorp Almenum. De kerk werd in de 18de eeuw op initiatief van het stadsbestuur afgebroken. Er kwam in 1772- "75 een nieuwe kerk achter de toren, een zeer hoge kruiskerk. Het eenvoudige gebouw is gemetseld van gele steentjes, ongetwijfeld uit een Harlinger steenbakkerij. Inwendig is in een groots versieringsschema in Lodewijk XVIstijl de excellente kansel- en orgelpartij van A.A. Hinsch met snijwerk van J.G. Hempel het hoogtepunt.

Voorbij de oude (gedempte) waterlopen Lanen en Schritsen strekt zich de in 1597 gegraven Zuiderhaven uit. Aan de zuidzijde lagen ooit de werven van de Friese admiraliteit. De noordzijde wordt gedomineerd door de Sint-Michaëlskerk, een grote neogotische kruisbasiliek (1881) met een hoge toren die het silhouet van de stad samen met die van de Grote Kerk in sterke mate bepaalt. Aan de Grote Bredeplaats prijkt een van de mooiste pakhuizen: ‘De Blauwe Hand’. Aan de Voorstraat staat een verscheidenheid aan monumentale panden, onder meer dat van museum het Hannemahuis waarin de geschiedenis van de stad wordt gepresenteerd.

Harlingen heeft lang gevangen gezeten binnen de stadsgrachten, maar in de 20ste eeuw zijn er stadsuitbreidingen gekomen. Eerst in het oosten (begin van de eeuw) en noordoosten (vanaf jaren twintig) en later ook in het zuiden (meteen na de oorlog), spoedig gevolgd met uitgestrekte wijken aan de andere zijde van de autoweg N31. Aan de zeezijde kwamen achtereenvolgens Voorhaven, Nieuwe Willemshaven, Visserijhaven en Industriehaven tot stand. Recent kon een tweede, grote industriehaven in de Riedpolder worden gegraven.

To the east and southeast of Sneek is a beautiful, wide landscape with a few scattered terp (mound) villages and one of the Frisian Eleven cities, IJlst. The area forms the transition from the lake area to the former Middelzee, a sea arm that deeply penetrated Friesland from the north. Here are a number of so-called "hempolders", which were constructed in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. They were needed because the area after the silting up of the Middelzee could no longer lose its water through natural run-off.

The current, wonderfully winding road from Westhem, via IJlst to Sneek, follows the route of the old Hemdijk. The southern shore of the Middelzee was a little further north and ran from Westhem to the northeast, eastward to Folsgare, westward to Tjalhuizum and northward to Tirns.

You can easily explore this beautiful and interesting area by both car, preferably a convertible when the weather permits it, bicycle or on foot if you feel like it. Or of course from the water. IJlst is connected to the Frisian Lake District via the Wijde Wijmerts and the Geeuw. And the Bolswardervaart runs in a north-westerly direction, which is (just like the Geeuw) part of the Middelseeroute.

An intriguing name for an intriguing area. Around Pingjum is a beautiful, age-old landscape where the long struggle against the sea is still clearly visible. "Pingjumer Halsband" (Halsband = Necklace) is the name of a system of flood defenses that protected Pingjum against flooding in the old days. The farmland of the area around the village used to be largely enclosed by the Marne, a winding sea arm that reached as far as Bolsward. A large part of the "Necklace" has been preserved or restored and forms a beautiful walking route.

The area is also intriguing for other reasons. Here is the birthplace of the Baptist faith: its founder, Menno Simons, was born in 1496 in Witmarsum. Another famous son of the region is Pier Gerlofs Donia aka Greate Pier, the legendary Frisian freedom fighter born 16 years earlier in Kimswerd.

Apparently the region is just as inspiring as it is intriguing: the density of artists and galleries is strikingly high.

Good wine needs no bush. That also applies to Gaasterland, a unique part of the Netherlands. The slightly sloping landscape shows an unprecedented variation: meadows, fields, forest, heathland, reed lands, swamp, water, low-lying diked polders, and high-lying ’gaast’ and cliffs. Centuries ago the area ’between Mar and Klif’ (the Frisian lakes and the cliffs along the IJsselmeer) was in demand as a residential area for the nobility. And when tourism started to rise very slowly in the second half of the nineteenth century, it was not for nothing that Gaasterland was one of the first areas to benefit from it. For very many people, the area name has a magical sound that evokes memories of the holidays they have spent there. The long tourist tradition also means that the area is completely geared to tourism. Nevertheless, Gaasterland has fully retained its authenticity.

Staatsbosbeheer, Natuurmonumenten and It Fryske Gea manage a large number of different areas in Gaasterland that deserve protection because of their natural and / or landscape value: forests, heaths, cliffs, polders and areas outside the dikes. There are too many to list, and naming a few would be detrimental to the other areas. Hence: take a look at the websites of these organizations and discover the wide variety of nature and landscapes. Once you are in the area, we heartily recommend a visit to the "Mar en Klif" regional information center. The center is located in the beautiful green village of Oudemirdum and offers a wealth of information about the nature, history, and culture of Gaasterland.

The area can be discovered in many different ways. By bicycle, on foot, on horseback, by motorcycle or in the car; on "Route Zuidwest Friesland" you can indicate what you want and then choose from routes that meet your wishes. A network of nodes has also been developed especially for cyclists, on the basis of which you can compile your own route.

The picturesque river Luts, the Van Swinderenvaart, the Spokershoekvaart, and the Rijstervaart are suitable for small water sports. Together they form the route of the Elfstedentocht that runs through Gaasterland and connects the Slotermeer and Fluessen. The route leads via a small lake that was created by excavating sand for the construction of the N359. Today it is part of the Wyldemerk nature reserve, which was declared the first dragonfly reserve in the Netherlands in 2007.

The tranquility of today contrasts sharply with the history of the location, which also explains the name (’Wilde Markt’). The story is that here a long time ago a (wild) pagan celebration was held here to say goodbye to the summer. It is certainly that later, until the end of the nineteenth century, it was the location for an annual fair and playground, where it often went wild...

From 1954 to 1969 there was a barracks camp for Islamic Moluccans in the area. The mosque built there was the second in the Netherlands. Southeast of Wyldemerk is a beautiful 9-hole natural golf course. Due to the special attention to nature in both construction and management, the course was the first in Europe to receive a so-called ’Green label’.

Playing farmer’s golf is also an option, for example at De Bûterkamp Ice Farm in Oudemirdum. Excursions are also organized there and, as the name implies, traditional ice cream is made and sold. If you want to know (almost) everything about cows after eating that ice cream, you can visit the "Koeienmuseum" in Nijemirdum. Another museum with a special theme is the "Scheermuseum" in Bakhuizen.

You have a beautiful view over the Gaasterland landscape from the air watchtower that was built in the time of the Cold War west of Oudemirdum, on the highest point of Gaasterland. It is a bit of a climb, but then you also have something! You can of course also simply lie on the beach oin the shores of the IJsselmeer, for example at "De Hege Gerzen".

A description of an area such as Gaasterland is of course never complete; there is just too much to see, do, and experience. There is only one solution for the problem: discover the area yourself! You are more than welcome.

Ameland offers plenty of scenic areas covered in woods and heath. A hundred kilometres of cycle paths provide plenty of variation. And terraces in villages such as Nes are nice diversions.

Art lovers should make the crossing to the island in November when objects of modern art can be viewed all over the island during the “month of art”. The short crossing from the mainland makes Ameland perfect for spending a day in the fresh air.

The "separation" (in Frisian "Skieding") is the appropriate name for the road that runs from Surhuisterveen to the south. This road forms the provincial border between the provinces of Groningen and Friesland. The landscape on both sides is the result of peat and heathland reclamation. The dense pattern of small roads, the large number of scattered buildings along those roads and the typical wooded banks and alder lanes give the area a small-scale, private character. The plots are generally elongated; only around the heath villages Boelenslaan and Houtigehage is the allotment more block-shaped.

The villages in the area are relatively young and because of their history as peat excavation villages they often have no clearly visible and recognizable core. Drachten, which has since become the second-largest town in Friesland, did not exist as such until well into the seventeenth century. The impetus for growth was formed by the contract that the so-called "Drachtster Compagnons" signed in 1641 to excavate the bog north and east of the current city center.

The fact that this is a border area is evident from the fact that a large proportion of the inhabitants of the, formally Groninger village of Opende are actually Frisian. In addition to the cultural aspect, both provinces also "merge" in landscape terms. This also applies to the border area south of the A7 highway. There are Frieschepalen and De Wilp, among others, villages whose "outskirts" lie in the neighboring province.

The area around the Skieding offers a friendly, characteristic and varied landscape. It is perfect for exploring by bike or on foot. In good weather, Strandheem is a wonderful destination: a recreational lake where you can swim, surf and lie on the beach. And if shopping or attending theatre or concerts is more of your "cup of tea"? Drachten is just next door!

The area south of Dokkum is known as the Dokkumer Wâlden (Woodlands). Here is a sandy ridge on which a unique landscape has developed over the centuries. Characteristic are the alder-lanes that form the separation between the plots. The wide-open landscape of the sea clay area north of Dokkum makes way for a semi-closed, so-called coulisses-landscape.

The alternation between open areas, alder-lanes and small pieces of woodlands provides the area with its unique own charm. It is obvious that it is designated as part of the Dutch National Landscape "De Noordelijke Friese Wouden"

The area was inhabited on the higher sand ridge as early as 4000 BC. However, due to rising sea levels, the area changed over the centuries into an inaccessible bog area. From around the year 1100 the area was developed from the northern sea clay area. Across the north-south oriented subdivision, a series of villages emerged on the original sand ridge: Driesum, Wouterswoude, Dantumawoude, Murmerwoude, Akkerwoude, and Rinsumageest. The last three were merged in 1971 into the village of Damwoude. ’Dam’ is constructed of the three initial letters of the original villages.

The Dokkumer Wâlden is a paradise for everyone who loves peace, nature and landscape beauty. Nevertheless, all facilities for a pleasant stay are present. The area also has a lot to offer in terms of cultural history: medieval churches, windmills, the nearby fortified town of Dokkum, the Cihorei Museum De Sûkerei, etc. The Dokkumer Wâlden are ideal for exploring by bike or on foot. Canoe enthusiasts can visit the Valomstervaart, which forms the southern boundary of the area and provides access to the peat area west of the De Dokkumer Wâlden.

Terschelling, the largest Frisian Island, has something for everyone: endless cycling and hiking through the dunes or going out to enjoy one of the local restaurants, bars or cafés. Each village has its own character.

Terschelling is also known for its cultural festival known as Oerol that is held during the second week of June every year.

For many, Harlingen is the most beautiful of the Frisian "Elfsteden" (eleven cities). Of course, you should not argue about taste, but the city of ’Ouwe Seunen’ (the nickname of Harlingen) has something the other ten cities don’t have: the unique atmosphere of a real seaport city. Harlingen is a lively, bustling city during the water sports season. But also in the winter, the various ports ensure "life in the brewery".

The first port was already built around 1500. Thanks to the flourishing trade and shipping, the city grew explosively in the second half of the sixteenth century. When the Frisian Admiralty was moved from Dokkum to Harlingen in 1645, the city also became a naval port at that time.

The rich past can be seen in the more than 500 (!) Monumental builings in the city. One of them, the Hannemahuis, houses the municipal museum, where the history of the city comes to life in a fascinating way. You can get different city walks here. Another interesting museum is the Harlinger Aardewerkmuseum, located at the Zoutsloot canal. This picturesque canal is in the winter the scenic backdrop for a Christmas market that has become one of the most original and atmospheric in the Netherlands. Two other annual events that are worth a visit are the so-called ’Lanenkaatsen’ (third week of June) and the Harlinger-Visserijdagen (fishing days) end of August. We would like to refer art lovers to ’Art on the coast’

The contrast between the lively Harlingen and the surrounding area is great. The peace and quiet in the western part of the ’Bouhoeke’, the agricultural area north of the Harlingen - Leeuwarden line is only occasionally disturbed by the sound of agricultural machines. During the first three decades of the twentieth century, a steam train was also regularly heard: the Stiens-Harlingen railway line of the Noord-Friesche Lokaalspoorweg Maatschappij ran through the area. The State Railways had already opened the Harlingen-Leeuwarden line in 1863, the first railway line in Friesland.

The names of all the villages in this region end with -um, which is derived from Germanic "heem", which means ’place of residence’ and is still reported in Frisian in the word "hiem". In this area, which was not protected against the sea until well after the beginning of the Christian era, these residences were necessarily placed on artificial elevations in the salt marsh landscape: so-called terpen. These residential manmade mounds were often erected on existing natural elevations in the landscape, the salt marshes. A famous mound is that of Wijnaldum. Special archaeological finds have been made here in the past. A visit to the archaeological information center is worthwhile.

The construction of dikes began around 1000. One of them is the Slachtedyk, which is more than 42 kilometers long. In 2000, the dike was the route for the Slachtemarathon for the first time, which has since been organized every four years. But you don’t have to wait until the next edition: the dike is freely accessible. And when you set off on your own, you experience the beautiful landscape, the peace, and quiet all the more! And of course, you may also walk a small part of the route ...

The current monumental seadike also has an irresistible attraction for many. When the weather is nice, the view over the Waddensea in front and the land behind is truly magical! And with ’rough’ weather, when the function of the dike is palpable and visible, you can almost be ’blown away’ literally and figuratively. There are so-called ’dyksputten’ here and there on the inside of the dike, which combined forms the Bjirmen nature reserve.

The history of the area is explained in a clear and expressive way on the village site of Sexbierum. But not before the intriguing name of the village has been addressed ... Because of the presence of quite a few monumental farms and stately homes of notables, Sexbierum and the neighboring Pietersbierum exude a certain grandeur.

It will be clear: Harlingen is more than just the place where the boat to and from Vlieland or Terschelling departs and arrives and the surroundings will pleasantly surprise you. Take a few days to explore the monumental, cozy city and the beautiful, relaxing environment. Three unique accommodation options ensure the ’ultimate harbor feeling’. You can if you want, sleep in a harbor crane, a lighthouse or a lifeboat. What else do you want!

The southwestern tip of the Frisian mainland is an intriguing region. By the car, it is an area hard to reach. And the Sneek - Stavoren train also doesn’t carry large crowds of people either. It is therefore a beautiful, tranquil area. The soothing peace of today stands in stark contrast to the turbulent and busy past.

Already in 991 Stavoren was looted by the Normans. Apparently it was already a prosperous, rich city at that time. Thanks to its strategic location on the Zuiderzee, Stavoren had even become the most important city in Friesland in the thirteenth century. When the Dutch count Willem IV wanted to conquer Stavoren in 1345, he ordered a part of his fleet to land north of the town. The rest of the army landed at Laaksum and would advance to Stavoren via Warns. The battle that ensued later became famous as the Battle of Warns, which ended in a miserable defeat for the Dutch and the death of Count Willem. The road from Scharl to Warns, along which the Dutch knights faced their demise, was called ’the ferkearde wei’ (the wrong way) until well into the twentieth century and is still popularly referred to this among the locals. At the monument on the Red Cliff a boulder with the text "Leaver dea as slave" (rather dead than slave), the battle is commemorated every year on the last Saturday of September.

Stavoren experienced periods of great wealth, but also of decline and downturn. The latter is the subject of the beautiful saga of "het Vrouwtje van Stavoren". (the lady of Stavoren) At the old harbor there is a statue of this haughty, rich widow who, as the story goes, has the origins of the Women’s Sands on her conscience: a shallow area off the coast that hindered shipping and would, therefore, be the cause of the decline of the town.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Stavoren was little more than a minor fishing village. A new impulse was the rail connection with Sneek (1885) and especially the ferry service at Enkhuizen, which started a year later. In 1888 a collision took place between the two steamboats "Friesland" and "Holland". This time ’victory’ was for Holland: the "Friesland" miserably disappeared into the waves. In 1899, the first of three steam ferries were put into operation onto which train wagons could be driven. In 1916, a peak year for the ferries, no fewer than 340,000 passengers and 43,000 freight cars were transported.

Nowadays Stavoren is a dormant, beautiful IJsselmeer town that comes alive especially in the summer thanks to water sports tourism. But also for non-boat people, the town is more attractive. Taste the unique atmosphere while walking. Come and visit Atelier Basalt, Kunsthuis Stavoren or Galerie De Staverse Jol. Or take a look at Toankamer ’t Ponthûs. And if you still want to get on the water, make a crossing to Enkhuizen with the current tourist ferry service. Also, the neighbouring Molkwerum and Warns used to be prosperous places thanks to trade and shipping. Because of the "islands" on which it was built, Molkwerum was long known as the ’Frisian Maze’ or ’Venice of the North’. Another nickname was "Heksenhol", which refers to the women whose men often stayed at sea for a long time. The village was known for trade in swan-brine meat and had its own representation in Amsterdam. Since 1916, the famous Molkwarder Koeke has been made in the village, a specific Frisian delicacy. Nowadays there is an Antiquity room with a tea-house in the original bakery Warns still has a number of so-called ’big skipper houses’. Nowadays, it is mainly pleasure boaters who have the village as their home port. There are various tourist accommodation options and a number of studios and galleries.

Besides the rich and turbulent history and the current tourist facilities, the area is also, and perhaps especially, worth a visit because of the beautiful landscape, nature and tranquility. The high-lying Red Cliff, the picturesque harbor of Laaksum, the low-lying Sudermarpolder, the former sea dike, the Mokkebank nature reserves and the "Bocht van Molkwar" and the vast IJsselmeer, which the locals still call "the See" for good reason. All that forms the beautiful backdrop in which you can enjoy a wonderful time.

Vlieland is an oasis of tranquillity. The smallest of the four Frisian Islands, it is the farthest from the mainland. To preserve this quietness and the island’s natural flora and fauna, no cars are allowed on Vlieland.

The only village, Oost-Vlieland, offers friendly cafés and hospitable restaurants. A former village, West-Vlieland, disappeared long ago into the waves.

Schiermonnikoog has the widest beach in Europe. At the eastern tip of the island, the beach fans out into an enormous sand flat. Utter silence surrounds you.

Because of its importance as a nature sanctuary, the entire island is a national park. If you love bird life, Schiermonnikoog is a must.