Terschelling
After a good trip across the Wadden Sea, we arrive at the first island, Terschelling. The largest village on the island is West-Terschelling, this village has a lot of nice shops, cosy streets and well-known restaurants. The lighthouse in the middle of the village is also worth a visit. The harbour is about 500 metres from the centre. At the harbour, you can rent bikes to explore the island that way. Of course, you can also just take a taxi towards the centre. There are also activities such as horse riding, beach sailing and a covered wagon ride.
Texel
Of all the Wadden Islands in the Netherlands, Texel is the largest. The island has an area of about 170 km². Texel has beautiful stretches of sandy beaches where you can hike, fly kites and ride horses, among other things. Of course, you can also just sunbathe and relax and take the occasional refreshing dip in the sea. The port was originally a real fishing port and this is still clearly visible today. At the end of the harbour is a marina for pleasure boats. As on Terschelling, it is possible to rent bikes at the harbour to explore the island. It is possible to eat something at the harbour, but the village, with nice restaurants, is not within walking distance. There is also plenty to do on Texel, including golfing, go-karting, parachuting and, of course, good food.
.
Stavoren
Stavoren was once a Hanseatic city and is one of the Frisian Eleven Cities. It is perhaps the most beautiful town on the IJsselmeer. The port of Stavoren is located directly on the IJsselmeer, in the town there is plenty to see and do. For example, visit the Scottish Restaurant and Whisky Bar or have a drink at Café Max. Also visit the Piet de Vries-designed pumping station, which discharges 6000 m3 of water into the IJsselmeer, making it one of the largest pumping stations in Europe. Finally, visit Museum Ponthus to find out even more about Stavoren's long history.
Makkum
Makkum is a small fishing village with a rich history that is still evident in the centre. The structure of the village is therefore more like a city. On the beach of Makkum you can sunbathe and you can walk dozens of metres into the IJsselmeer without it getting deeper. This makes it a nice place where children can play safely in the water. The village has plenty of shops, restaurants and pubs. Makkum lies in the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân and is also called the gateway to the Wadden Sea.
Enkhuizen
Enkhuizen is one of the larger towns on the IJsselmeer and perhaps the most beautiful VOC town in the Netherlands. In its heyday around the seventeenth century, Enkhuizen was the country's herring city. So there is plenty to explore in this town. For example, take a walk along the sluice and along the old canals. Actually, the whole town of Enkhuizen is one big historical museum where there is something to discover on every street corner.
Do you still prefer a really detailed picture of how people used to live in Enkhuizen? Then visit the Zuiderzee Museum and find out how people lived in Enkhuizen before the afsluitdijk. Enkhuizen has several harbours, but during this flotilla our preference is to dock in the old harbour.
Hindeloopen
Hindeloopen is an Eleven-city town on the Frisian Coast. The town is best known for its stylish costumes, painting and wooden bridges. The town made a lot of money from trade with ports on the Baltic Sea. This is still clearly visible in, for example, the large Captain's houses. Discover all about the history and culture of Hindeloopen by taking a walk through this extraordinary town.
.