In this article, you’ll discover what you can do in 48 hours during a weekend break in Westfriesland. This typically Dutch region is situated in North Holland, north of Amsterdam. Think of historic port towns such as Hoorn, Medemblik and Enkhuizen, where old façades, warehouses and ships characterise the streetscape. Outside the towns, the flat landscape awaits, with windmills, long dykes and views over the Markermeer and IJsselmeer. In spring, the tulip fields bring colour to the polders. In this itinerary, you’ll discover Westfriesland in exactly 48 hours. Perfect for a weekend break!
The programme runs from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon: approximately 48 hours, spread over three calendar days.
Day 1: Start by taking a look around historic Hoorn
- 3.00 pm: Meet at the Roode Steen and set off on the podwalk in Hoorn
- 4.00 pm: A stroll around the harbour
- 5.30 pm: Dinner with a harbour view
Day 1 - Start by taking a look around historic Hoorn
Hoorn is a logical base for your weekend break in Westfriesland. The historic city centre is compact, the station is centrally located, and from the city you can easily travel further afield throughout Westfriesland. First, check in at your accommodation, then put on a good pair of walking shoes.
3.00 pm: Meet at the Roode Steen and set off on the podwalk in Hoorn
Take a walk to the Roode Steen. This is Hoorn central square, lined with historic and elegant façades. Behind one of these beautiful façades lies the Westfries Museum. The museum building is currently being restored and will remain closed until mid-2027. Fortunately, the museum in the Statenpoort offers a multimedia show featuring stories about Hoorn , and you can take a ‘podwalk’ through the town and harbour. The walk takes an hour and is available in English and German.
During the city walk, you’ll discover how trade and shipping shaped Hoorn . You’ll hear not only stories of wealth and voyages of discovery, but also about the downside of global trade. This way, you’ll get to know the city a bit better straight away. So you won’t just see the façades, but you’ll also hear what lay behind them.
4.00 pm: A stroll around the harbour
As you walk towards the water, you’ll naturally come across the old merchant’s houses, warehouses and narrow streets with centuries-old façades. Surrounding the Hoofdtoren, an old defence tower, are sailing ships, pleasure craft and old quays where goods used to be unloaded onto the shore. Be sure to take a stroll to the Schuijteskade. In front of the museum harbour, you’ll find historic ships, each with its own story which you can listen to via a QR code. One thing is certain: you’ll never tire of exploring Hoorn harbour!
5.30 pm: Dinner with a harbour view
Take a seat at the eponymous Restaurant De Hoofdtoren. From the restaurant, you can enjoy a lovely view over the historic harbour of Hoorn. The menu features fish dishes, meat dishes and vegetarian options. Why not try the speciality eel toast or the fish of the day? Round off your meal with a typical Dutch cheese platter, if you’ve still got room. Incidentally, you’re not just dining next to a historic monument here, but right in the middle of one. The Hoofdtoren was built in 1532 to defend the harbour of Hoorn against attacks from the water. On the sea-facing side, the walls are almost one and a half metres thick and used to feature openings for cannons and muskets. Take one more stroll along the waterfront or head back to your hotel.
Day 2 - Tick off the Historic Triangle by steam and water
The Historic Triangle comprises Hoorn, Medemblik and Enkhuizen. These are the three most important port towns, steeped in history. You’ve already visited Hoorn . Today is all about Medemblik and Enkhuizen. You’ll travel from Hoorn to Medemblik on the Museum Steam Tram, sail on to Enkhuizen and return to Hoorn by regular train.
10.40 am: Step aboard the Museum Steam Tram
Start the day at the historic tram station in Hoorn. As soon as the locomotive sets off, you’ll leave the town behind. The landscape becomes increasingly open. Meadows, ditches, villages and windmills slowly glide past the window. The Museum Steam Tram runs along the historic railway line between Hoorn and Medemblik. Along the way, you’ll pass through picturesque villages such as Wognum, Twisk and Opperdoes. A special highlight: in spring, you can see the colourful tulip fields from this train. That’s when you’ll experience Westfriesland at its most beautiful!
The railway line itself is, in fact, a sight to behold. It opened in 1887 and has been exceptionally well preserved, including old station buildings, bridges and signals. Of the original ten station buildings, eight still stand. So, along the way, you’ll not only take in the West Frisian countryside, but also get a fascinating glimpse into what travel was like over a century ago.
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Hoorn-Medemblik Museum Steam Tram
Hoorn-Medemblik Museum Steam Tram
The locomotive whistles. The stoker shovels coal onto the fire. And you? You hop on board. On the Hoorn-Medemblik Museum Steam Tram, you’ll travel through the West Frisian countryside in historic carriages. Past meadows, villages and old stations. Not fast, but a lot more fun. More info about the Hoorn-Medemblik Museum Steam Tram
12.00: A walk and lunch in Medemblik
The Museum Steam Tram stops at the platform in Medemblik, the oldest town in Westfriesland. It’s not a big town, but that’s precisely its charm. From the station, you can stroll straight into the historic centre. Around the Oosterhaven and Westerhaven, old buildings stand right on the water’s edge. Sailing boats, historic ships and modern yachts lie side by side. And wherever you look: masts, quays and water. Medemblik lies on the IJsselmeer, and life by the water is still very much in evidence here.
Take a leisurely stroll along the harbour and be sure to look around you. The old façades stand close together, whilst in the harbours there’s plenty of space for ships. That contrast gives Medemblik its unique atmosphere: a town with a long history, yet with a village-like character. Time for lunch? Pull up a chair at Het Wapen van Medemblik on the Oosterhaven. This well-known hotel-restaurant is right in the centre and offers views over the harbours from its conservatory. The menu features Dutch and international dishes. Do keep it to a quick lunch, though, as the next mode of transport is due at 1.20 pm. Make sure you’re at the boat by 1.05 pm at the latest.
1.20 pm: Boating to Enkhuizen
In Medemblik , you can board the museum ship Friesland. During the crossing to Enkhuizen , you’ll see Westfriesland from a perspective that has shaped the region for centuries: the water. From the deck, you can gaze out across the IJsselmeer. The coast slowly fades away behind you. Sailing boats on the horizon, seagulls above the ship and a fair bit of wind. Is it blowing hard? Then you’ll know straight away why a jacket is no luxury, even on sunny days.
Until 1932, you could sail here across the Zuiderzee, a saltwater inland sea. Following the construction of the Afsluitdijk, the IJsselmeer was formed and the water gradually became fresh. The trip takes about an hour and a quarter. So there’s plenty of time to enjoy the view from the upper deck. Is it getting a bit too chilly outside? Inside, you’ll find the ship’s lounge and bar. Handy for typical Dutch weather.
Good to know: the steam tram runs and the museum ship sails according to a variable timetable. It’s therefore a good idea to check in advance whether this programme is available on the day of your visit.
2.35 pm: A journey into the past at the Zuiderzee Museum
Step ashore at the Zuiderzee Museum in Enkhuizen. In ‘t Zuiderzeedorp, you can experience what life was like around the former Zuiderzee. Stroll along cobbled streets, take a peek inside old houses and watch craftspeople at work – from blacksmiths and rope-makers to sail-makers and fish-smokers. Many of these trades were indispensable to fishing and shipping. So you’ll not only see how people lived, but above all how they lived with and from the water.
And that village? It’s not a historical setting that’s been recreated here. More than 140 historic buildings come from villages and towns around the former Zuiderzee. Houses, shops and other buildings were moved to Enkhuizen and rebuilt here. Together, they form a village from the early twentieth century. So do pop in through a front door. Behind the façades, you’ll discover how families lived, worked and organised their daily lives. ’t Zuiderzeedorp will be open in 2026 from 28 March to 25 October. The covered Schathuys is accessible almost all year round. The museum also provides extensive information in English and German.
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Zuiderzee Museum
Zuiderzee Museum
At the Zuiderzee Museum, you’ll step into life around the old Zuiderzee. You’ll walk through ‘t Zuiderzeedorp, see traditional crafts and take a trip on the museum ferry. Inside, the Schathuys awaits, with stories about water, work and life. More info about the Zuiderzee Museum
6.00 pm: An evening stroll and a bite to eat in Enkhuizen
From the Zuiderzee Museum, it’s a 15-minute walk into the historic harbour town. Enkhuizen grew in importance through trade, fishing and shipping. That history is still evident in the harbours, canals, warehouses and listed houses. Walk past the Drommedaris, the distinctive old city gate near the harbour. Then stroll across small bridges and along the quays. The town centre is compact, so you can see a good part of the town at a leisurely pace.
Stay in Enkhuizen for dinner. Choose a restaurant by the harbour or in the historic town centre. Fish is the obvious choice, but local cheese and seasonal produce also complement the region well. After dinner, take the regular train back to Hoorn, where your second night’s accommodation awaits.
Day 3 - About the West Frisian Omringdijk
After visiting all the towns and museums, it’s time to head out into the open countryside of Westfriesland. Hire a bike in Hoorn from Fietspoint Ruiter at the station, or ask at your hotel if they offer bike hire. Not fancied a cycle? Then take a short drive along a section of the West Frisian Omringdijk. The entire dyke is around 126 kilometres long and has surrounded the historic region for some 800 years. Separate dykes were linked together to protect the low-lying land from the water.
9.30 am: Cycling along the water, through villages and past windmills
You really don’t need to travel dozens of kilometres along the West Frisian Omringdijk. Even a short stretch along the dyke is enough to appreciate how closely water and landscape are intertwined here. Our top recommendation is the route from Hoorn towards Schellinkhout and Wijdenes. From the dyke, you look out over the Markermeer on one side and the low-lying West Frisian polders on the other. Along the way, you’ll see ditches, reeds, thatched farmhouses, villages and windmills. At times, all you can hear are birds and the wind.
That dyke isn’t just there for the lovely view. The West Frisian Omringdijk winds its way around historic Westfriesland and was created by connecting several smaller dykes. For centuries, it has kept the water out and the land habitable. From your bike, you can clearly see what that means: water on one side, land on the other. It is precisely between Schellinkhout and Wijdenes that the landscape feels wonderfully open. The authentic villages stretch out behind the dyke, whilst from the top you have an unobstructed view across the Markermeer.
Along the route, you’ll come across various traditional Dutch windmills. A lovely stop-off point near Wijdenes is De Stofmolen, a corn mill dating from 1911 where grain is still ground today. Check in advance whether the mill is open, but even if it’s closed, it’s still well worth a visit.
1.00 pm: Lunch behind bars in Hoorn
Return to Hoorn and head for Oostereiland. This part Hoorn was constructed between 1662 and 1665 to expand the harbour. Later, it was home to, amongst other things, the Admiralty, a poorhouse and a prison. Prisoners were forced to work there – sorting currants, for example.
These days, Oostereiland is a much more welcoming place. You can enjoy a lovely lunch on Oostereiland in the old prison complex. You’ll be sitting in the former prison, on the edge of Lake Markermeer. When the weather’s fine, head out onto the terrace with a view over the water. A lovely way to round off your weekend break in Westfriesland. My tip: do look for a nice little souvenir in the Museum of the 20th Century’s shop or at the Tourist Information Point.
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Oostereiland, Hoorn
Oostereiland, Hoorn
Oostereiland is situated in Hoorn harbour. In the past, this was a place where you’d be locked up. Now you can visit for films, museums, food, drinks or a night in an old prison. A bit rough around the edges, but with great views. Hoorn at its most quirky. More info about Oostereiland Hoorn
2.00 pm: One more lap around Hoorn
Do you still have some time before you leave? Then take one last stroll through the town centre. From the Roode Steen, you can walk through narrow streets lined with old façades towards the harbour. At the harbour, you’ll look out over masts, historic ships and the Markermeer. A lovely spot to reflect on the past 48 hours. A nice idea is to take some Dutch cheese home with you. That is, if you don’t eat it all on the way.
After 48 hours, you’ll have seen three historic towns. You’ve travelled through the West Frisian countryside on the museum steam tram, sailed across the IJsselmeer and stood on a dyke that has protected the land for centuries. And yet you’ve by no means seen it all. That’s not down to the itinerary, but it’s a good reason to come back again.
Are you still looking for somewhere to stay for your weekend in Westfriesland? - These are unique hotels in Hoorn: the ideal base for this 48-hour itinerary
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Oostereiland Hotel
Oostereiland Hotel
You might once have served your sentence here. Now you can simply book a night’s stay of your own free will. Hotel Oostereiland is situated in a former prison on the harbour in Hoorn. The thick walls, original cell doors and long corridors are a reminder of days gone by. It’s not exactly what you’d call cosy. Yet it’s surprisingly comfortable to sleep in.
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Ysbrantsz Boutique Hotel
Ysbrantsz Boutique Hotel
You’ll find Ysbrantsz on the Roode Steen. A boutique hotel and restaurant steeped in Hoorn’s history. Pop in for a coffee, lunch, drinks or dinner. And afterwards? Simply stay the night in one of the charming hotel rooms. It couldn’t be easier.
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Heavens Hotel
Heavens Hotel
It’s not every day you get to sleep in a church. Heavens Hotel is situated in the former Grote Kerk in Hoorn. You’ll spend the night amidst high vaults, historic features and stained-glass windows, right in the heart of the city centre. So, it’s certainly not your average hotel room – it’s a place with real character.
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B&B De Kleine Eenhoorn
B&B De Kleine Eenhoorn
Fancy staying in Hoorn town centre? Then you’ve come to the right place. This cosy flat is on the ground floor, right in the heart of the historic streets, the harbour, cafés and shops. So everything’s within walking distance.
Frequently asked questions about 48 hours in Westfriesland
This programme for Westfriesland runs from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. That’s two nights’ accommodation, spread over three calendar days. Together, they make up exactly 48 hours.
Hoorn is a convenient base for your overnight stays in Westfriesland. The Museum Steam Tram departs from there, and the town has a railway station with connections to Enkhuizen and Amsterdam. Would you prefer a quieter stay by the water? Then Medemblik and Enkhuizen are good alternatives.
Yes. Hoorn and Enkhuizen are accessible by train. What makes this programme special is that the ‘Historical Triangle’ combines the steam tram, boat and train. A hire bike is handy for the dyke route on Sunday.
The Museum Steam Tram and the Zuiderzee Museum are ideal for families. If you’re travelling with young children, plan fewer city walks and spend more time at a single attraction. That way, everyone will have a brilliant weekend.
This programme is best enjoyed between late March and October. During this period, ferry services run more frequently and ’t Zuiderzeedorp is open. What’s more, in spring the tulip fields are in full bloom and the landscape is a riot of colour.