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In Enkhuizen, the traces of its times as an important VOC city and the many centuries of herring fishery are still visible. From the moorings on Gependam – where there is always the hustle and bustle of the many traditional sailing boats – the attractive centre can be reached on foot. The main attraction of Enkhuizen is the Zuiderzee Museum, where visitors of all ages can really experience the Enkhuizen of the Golden Age. In addition, Enkhuizen has a sandy beach and an indoor swimming pool; while these are not directly adjacent to the harbour, they are within walking distance.

General information

Enkhuizen is a unique harbour town which has preserved its historic character well. As a result, Enkhuizen has a wide choice of terraces, restaurants and authentic brown cafes. Furthermore, Enkhuizen has all facilities that can be expected of a small town (although the nearest supermarket is a 10-minute walk from the boats). Enkhuizen lies directly on IJsselmeer and Markermeer (the southern half of the IJsselmeer), which makes it ideal both as a starting point and a destination.

Facilities

• Supermarkets
• Bakery pastry shop
• Butchery
• Shopping street
• Tourist info
• Beach
• Different restaurants
• Cosy cafés
• Open air museum 'Zuiderzeemuseum'
• Indoor museum
• Fairytale park
• Bike rental
• Steamtrain Hoorn - Medemblik

Sights and activities

The Zuiderzee Museum is an absolute highlight and worth a visit of at least a morning or afternoon. In the museum, which is located directly on IJsselmeer, a fishing village from the Golden Age has been reconstructed, offering young and old the opportunity to taste the atmosphere of yesteryear. There are continuous demonstrations of old trades: twining rope, making clogs and mending fishing nets. An educational outing that never gets boring! Information on all activities, prices and opening hours can be found on https://www.zuiderzeemuseum.nl/?lang=en

For those with less time it is also fun to pop into the Enkhuizen Almanak Museum or the Flessenscheepjes-museum (ships-in-a-bottle museum). See http://www.flessenscheepjesmuseum.nl

Almost directly on the harbour is the tourist information ship. Though it is not an official tourist information office, the staff here know a lot about the sights and events in the region. For instance, they sell a booklet with city walks through Enkhuizen for € 3.95. It is also possible to book a walk with a guide, but this must be reserved in advance. All information is on www.enkhuizenboeit.nl.

For people who want to visit the VOC town of Hoorn from Enkhuizen, the Historic Triangle of the Tram Engine between Hoorn and Medemblik is very interesting. In the morning, a 1956-built heritage ferry 'Friesland' leaves Enkhuizen for Medemblik from which you can travel on to Hoorn after having spent about an hour and a half in the town. In the meantime, your ship will sail from Enkhuizen directly to Hoorn and will be ready for you upon arrival. This way, you will miss a day of sailing (which is a pity), but will experience different types of transport from the same era as your traditional sailing boat. Contact us for the options for the single trips (this is not always possible). Information, timetable and prices are on https://www.stoomtram.nl/en/

Enkhuizen has been known for centuries for its herring fishery – the official city emblem even shows 3 herrings. Though herring fishery in Enkhuizen ended after construction of the Afsluitdijk, because the IJsselmeer water was no longer salty enough, enthusiasts, a fresh herring ‘happen’ is still part of a visit of Enkhuizen.

Planning my trip

No two sailing trips are the same. That is why we are happy to help you plan your sailing trip on the IJsselmeer with a traditional sailing ship. Please contact us for personal advice or easily request a quote online.

Start planning your trip