Holiday apartment in Joure: Culture, Water and Family Experiences

Culture and History in Joure

At Museum Joure, Frisian clockmaking is a particular highlight: the route includes a clockmaker’s workshop and the world’s largest collection of Frisian clocks. On the site where the world-famous coffee brand was founded, the distinctive De Witte Os shop, a KLM house since 2018, the manor house, the warehouse and the birthplace of the founder Egbert Douwes are among the attractions. At the Koffieproeverij, you can prepare and taste different types of coffee yourself while learning how coffee develops its flavour. De Witte Os is a Rijksmonument, meaning a Dutch national monument.

The former church tower of Westermeer stands in Joure’s cemetery. The brick tower, probably dating from the 16th century, is registered as a Rijksmonument. The Jouster Toer dates from 1628 and once housed a council chamber and a prison. During the guided Jouster Kuierke, old façades, narrow streets and historic buildings lead you through Joure; you will also have the opportunity to visit the historic courtroom in the Jouster Toer.

Parks, Windmills and Regional Impressions

Park Heremastate is a freely accessible park surrounding Herema State in Joure. The English landscape garden design, partly created by garden architect Roodbaard, can still be recognised in its original forms today; old pollarded lime trees, beeches and oaks stand in the park. De Groene Molen is a polder windmill in Joure, built around 1800 as a hollow-post drainage mill on a high masonry base.

At Penninga’s Molen, you can meet the miller, hear stories and buy wheat, rye and spelt products. The mill is open on Saturday mornings from 09:30 to 12:00 and by appointment. For some group brain-teasing, Puzzelmuseum Joure offers logic puzzles, brainteasers and riddles; to do puzzles yourself, you must reserve in advance and arrange an appointment.

Families, Water and Special Activities

The subtropical swimming pool Swimfun Joure features the Wild River water ride, which passes through waterfalls and caves. Speelbos Joure is an indoor play paradise for children aged 1 to 12 and also has an escape room for children with puzzles and brainteasers. At Jouster Strand Woudfennen, you can use surfboards and the numerous play facilities free of charge. SUP Joure offers SUP-board rental and supervised courses with SUP instruction, including activities you can enjoy with children.

You can also experience the surrounding area from above: during a balloon ride, you will see forests, fields, water, villages and cities from a different perspective. The first edition of the Friese Ballonfeesten took place from 9 July to 12 July 1986 at the Nutsbaan in Joure. The Jouster Merke is an annual fair and funfair; it takes place on the fourth Thursday in September.

Further places for planning your trip: Boornzwaag, Idskenhuizen, Sint Nicolaasga, Teroele, Rotsterhaule, Sintjohannesga, Terkaple, Legemeer.

Back to the main travel overview: Skarsterlân.