The best highlights of Westfriesland: experience the real Holland
This blog is for anyone looking for authentic Holland, but without the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam. Westfriesland lies north of Amsterdam, about half an hour’s journey away. Here you’ll find an area full of historic harbour towns, colourful tulip fields, polders with windmills and dykes with views stretching to the horizon. In short: in Westfriesland, the quintessential Dutch landscape is right there waiting for you. Discover our top tips for the most beautiful highlights of Westfriesland!
- Historic façades along the waterfront in Hoorn
- Tulip fields: Westfriesland in full colour
- Castles, harbours and steam power in Medemblik
- The West Frisian Omringdijk: 126 kilometres of views
- Enkhuizen: life on the former Zuiderzee
- Go from windmill to windmill in Westfriesland
- Taste Dutch cheese from West Frisian soil
1. Historic façades along the waterfront in Hoorn
Hoorn is a good starting point for a visit to Westfriesland. In the seventeenth century, the town developed into an important centre for trade and shipping. That history is still visible today; you simply need to stroll through the streets. Start at the Roode Steen, the town’s central square. Surrounding it are historic buildings, cosy terraces and historic façades such as that of the Oude Waag. The most striking façade is that of the Westfries Museum. The museum building is currently being restored and will remain closed until mid-2027. Fortunately, Hoorn stories are still close at hand: you can discover them right on the streets via a Podwalk.
Hoorn is compact, making it easy to walk to the harbour. Along the way, you’ll pass stately merchant’s houses and old warehouses. By the water, you’ll find the striking Hoofdtoren, traditional ships and quays where goods from distant lands used to be unloaded. Close to the harbour, you’ll also find Oostereiland. This former prison island still has thick walls and sturdy doors. An added bonus: you can spend the night in an old prison here at the Hotel Oostereiland.
- Discover the Westfries Museum’s ‘Podwalk’ route for an enjoyable city walk in Hoorn.
- At the Statenpoort, you can experience the history of Hoorn through a multimedia show lasting around 15 minutes. This is available from Tuesday to Sunday, from 12.00 to 17.00.
Statenpoort address: Nieuwstraat 23A, Hoorn
Stay overnight in Hoorn
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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.
2. Tulip fields: Westfriesland in full colour
In spring, the landscape transforms. The straight lines of the polders suddenly burst into colour. Red, yellow, pink, purple and white stretch out in long swathes side by side. You’ll find tulip fields around Andijk, Bovenkarspel, Hoogkarspel, Opperdoes and Twisk, amongst other places. The tulips usually bloom from mid-April to early May. The exact period depends on the weather. After a warm winter, the flowers may appear earlier. In a cold spring, flowering begins later. A cycle route such as the West Frisian Bulb Route is highly recommended for viewing the colourful tulip fields.
Another lovely way to see the colourful landscape is to hop aboard the Museum Steam Tram between Hoorn and Medemblik. Along the way, you’ll pass meadows, authentic villages, traditional farmhouses and old stations. During the flowering season, usually in the second half of April, the Museum Steam Tram is transformed into the Tulip Tram. The tram then travels a little more slowly past the most beautiful tulip fields so you can enjoy the view to the full. Tip: the flowers look inviting, but please stay on the public footpath and do not walk amongst the tulips. That way, everyone can enjoy all this beauty for as long as possible!
- Check the current timetable before your visit and book tickets for the steam tram.
Van Dedemstraat 8, Hoorn or Dam 2, Medemblik
3. Castles, harbours and steam power in Medemblik
Medemblik is the oldest town in Westfriesland. With several harbours close to the centre, you can truly call this a harbour town full of character. Sailing boats, historic ships and modern yachts are moored side by side here. Along the waterfront, you’ll find outdoor cafés and old houses. And the IJsselmeer is close by almost everywhere. You won’t find anywhere more authentic in Holland!
The most famous attraction in Medemblik is Radboud Castle. Count Floris V had the castle built in the thirteenth century. Today, you can stroll through its halls and towers. Exhibitions and stories bring to life what life was like in the Middle Ages. Outside, you can enjoy the view over the town and the water. On the outskirts of Medemblik stands the Dutch Steam Engine Museum. The steam engines are brought back to life: cogs turn, steam hisses and large parts slowly start to move. Here you can discover how steam power helped to keep the low-lying land dry.
- The Dutch Steam Engine Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 to 17.00. Parking is available on the grounds in front of the museum.
- Radboud Castle is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11.00 to 17.00. You can park for free in the car park directly in front of the castle entrance. It’s a two-minute walk to the castle.
Address of Radboud Castle: Oosterdijk 4, Medemblik
Address of the Dutch Steam Engine Museum: Oudevaartsgat 8, Medemblik
Stay overnight in Medemblik
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EuroParcs IJsselmeer
EuroParcs IJsselmeer
EuroParcs IJsselmeer is situated in Medemblik, right on the waterfront. You’ll stay in holiday homes and waterfront villas, often with a view of the water or your own jetty. From the park, you can cycle straight to De Vooroever or the centre of Medemblik.
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Hotel Restaurant De Vooroever
Hotel Restaurant De Vooroever
De Vooroever is situated between the IJsselmeer and the Grote Vliet. A family-run hotel with a restaurant, terrace and the water nearby. You come here for a meal, a night’s stay, a spot to fish or a cycle ride along the dyke. Simply well-located, no fuss.
4. The West Frisian Omringdijk: 126 kilometres of views
The West Frisian Omringdijk runs like a long line around the historic region of Westfriesland. The dyke is approximately 126 kilometres long and was built some 800 years ago. Various smaller dykes were once connected to form a closed ring that protected the land from the water. Without that dyke, Westfriesland would look very different. It would certainly be a lot wetter.
Cycle, walk or drive along the Omringdijk yourself and discover this much-loved historic route. From the dyke, you can look out over the IJsselmeer, Markermeer, polders and villages. Along the way, you’ll pass windmills, traditional farmhouses, orchards and historic towns. You don’t have to cover the entire route straight away. For example, you could choose the section between Hoorn and Medemblik. Or cycle along the IJsselmeer from Medemblik to Enkhuizen. The views along the way are stunning: water on one side, land on the other. It doesn’t get much more Dutch than that.
5. Enkhuizen: life on the former Zuiderzee
Enkhuizen is a historic port town on the IJsselmeer, the former Zuiderzee. The town grew in importance through trade, fishing and shipping. That history is still evident in the harbours, canals and listed buildings. Small bridges, old façades and boats characterise the view. One of the best-known buildings is the Drommedaris. This old city gate stands by the harbour and used to guard the entrance to the town. Nowadays, it is primarily a recognisable symbol of Enkhuizen.
A must-visit attraction in Enkhuizen is the Zuiderzee Museum. The museum tells the story of life around the former Zuiderzee, before the Afsluitdijk was built. In the open-air museum, you can stroll through an old Zuiderzee village. Artisans demonstrate how people used to make nets, twist rope and smoke fish. The Flessenscheepjesmuseum is considerably smaller. Housed in a former lock-keeper’s cottage, the museum boasts a large collection of ships in bottles. It’s a marvellous sight: entire ships, built inside the narrow neck of a bottle. How is that possible? You’ll discover the secret inside.
- The Zuiderzee Museum is open daily from 10.00 to 17.00. You can park for a fee (€7.00 per day) in the official car park by the entrance pavilion. From there, it’s a 15-minute ride on the free museum ferry to the outdoor museum.
- The Flessenscheepjesmuseum is open from Friday to Monday from 12.00 to 17.00. You can park for free in the car park behind Enkhuizen station. This is a ten-minute walk from the museum.
Address of the Zuiderzee Museum: Wierdijk 12–22, Enkhuizen
Address of the Flessenscheepjesmuseum: Zuiderspui 1, Enkhuizen
Stay in beautiful Enkhuizen
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B&B The Wooden Owl
B&B The Wooden Owl
B&B De Houten Uil is situated on the harbour in Enkhuizen, close to the station. You’ll stay on the first floor, with two double rooms, a breakfast room and a bathroom all to yourself. Small, peaceful and right by the water.
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Hotel De Koepoort
Hotel De Koepoort
Relax at Hotel De Koepoort, a charming hotel in the heart of Enkhuizen. You’ll be within easy reach of all the sights in this harbour town in no time at all.
6. Go from windmill to windmill in Westfriesland
A Dutch landscape without windmills? It just doesn’t feel quite right. In Westfriesland, they still stand amongst villages, dykes and open fields. Some ground grain. Others helped to pump water out of the polders. In this way, they kept the land dry and the locals in work. Our top picks are De Stofmolen in Wijdenes, Molen Ceres in Bovenkarspel and Molen De Lastdrager in Hoogwoud. The windmills can easily be combined with a cycle ride or a drive along the Westfriese Omringdijk. Do check the windmills’ opening times, as they aren’t open every day. Even when the doors are closed, the windmills are worth a stop.
- The Stofmolen is no longer in operation. You can park for free on the public road and view the mill from the outside.
- Ceres Mill is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10.00 to 16.00. You can park for free in the adjacent car park.
- De Lastdrager Windmill is open on Saturdays from 10.00 to 16.00 and on weekdays when the sails are turning. You can park for free in the parking bays along the public road.
Address of De Stofmolen: Molenweg 1, Wijdenes
Address of Molen Ceres: Broekerhavenweg 80, Bovenkarspel
Address of Molen De Lastdrager: Burgemeester Hoogenboomlaan 2, Hoogwoud
7. Taste Dutch cheese from West Frisian soil
A visit to Holland isn’t complete without cheese. In Westfriesland, that cheese often comes straight from the maker. Milk from the region is processed into young, mature or spiced cheese. In Hoogwoud, you’ll find Berkhout Cheese Farm. Here, you’ll find cheeses of various ages alongside small cheeses flavoured with, for example, cumin, truffle or pesto. Cheese is made from cow’s, goat’s and sheep’s milk. In Enkhuizen , at De Graaff van Enkhuysen cheese shop, you can sample cheeses straight from the cheese cellar and take some home as a souvenir. If the cheese doesn’t make it home, we understand!
- Berkhout Cheese Farm is open from Monday to Saturday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm (closed on Sundays). You can park for free in the car park directly in front of the shop.
- De Graaff Van Enkhuysen is open Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 18.00 and on Saturdays from 08.30 to 17.00.
Address of Berkhout Cheese Farm: Gouwe 1B, Hoogwoud
Address of De Graaff Van Enkhuysen: Westerstraat 71, Enkhuizen
Frequently asked questions about Westfriesland
Westfriesland is situated in the province of North Holland, north of Amsterdam. The region centres on towns such as Hoorn, Enkhuizen and Medemblik and is surrounded by the historic West Frisian Omringdijk. Westfriesland is therefore not located in the province of Friesland.
Hoorn and Enkhuizen are directly accessible by train from Amsterdam. The journey to Hoorn takes about half an hour. The journey to Enkhuizen takes about an hour. For smaller villages and parts of the Omringdijk, a bike or car is handy.
You can take your time to see the main highlights over two or three days. For example, visit Hoorn on the first day, travel via the Historic Triangle past Medemblik and Enkhuizen , and set aside an extra day for the tulip fields or the West Frisian Omringdijk.
Westfriesland has plenty of highlights that children will love too. In Enkhuizen , families can visit Sprookjeswonderland, where they’ll find fairy tales, boats, attractions and play areas. At the Zuiderzee Museum, children can play traditional Dutch games, go on treasure hunts and discover for themselves how people used to live around the Zuiderzee. The Museum Steam Tram between Hoorn and Medemblik is also an adventure in its own right. On the Steam Safari, children complete tasks along the way and learn all about locomotives, firemen and conductors.