Holiday apartment in Hem: IJsselmeer views and historic farmsteads

Hem combines views across the IJsselmeer with farmland, characteristic stolp farmhouses, and opportunities for hiking, boating and cycling. A holiday apartment in Hem therefore offers you a stay where landscape, architectural heritage and a variety of activities come together. Depending on your holiday plans, you can focus on exercise, local history or days outdoors.

Landscape between Hemmerbuurt and the Markermeer

From its intersection with the Meeweg, Hemmerbuurt follows the course of a higher sandy inversion ridge formed by former stream beds from prehistoric times in a north-easterly direction. This geological connection points to a time when West Friesland was still a tidal area. The Streekpad Westfriese Omringdijk passes Tersluis on the Markermeer, where Hem’s harbour was formerly located.

Traditional architecture in Hem

The Stolpboerderij Schuilwijk, together with its schute, is a largely preserved example of the traditional rural architecture typical of West Friesland. Its core is older, while its appearance dates from the second half of the 19th century. Hemmerbuurt 99 is a Kaakberghoeve enclosed on three sides, with a wooden side wall, windows with muntin divisions and a wooden gable ornament with a makelaar. Hemmerbuurt 101 is a simple building with a renovated façade and a wooden side wall.

At Hemmerbuurt 66, the tower of the Herv. Kerk has three sections. The entrance is framed by a tall pointed arch and covered by a rose-shaped sandstone beam. The second and third sections are decorated with narrow pointed-arch niches; the upper section has blind pointed-arch panels, some of which serve as sound openings. The balustrade and spire date from the period after the 1897 fire. The historic Stolphoeve Elba hoeve at Hemmerbuurt 243 was built around 1680 as a farmhouse originally standing freely on a raised mound.

Culture, parks and activities

The Westfries Museum, the Jan Pieterszoon Coen monument, the Westerkerk and the Oosterkerk are located in the vicinity of Hem. For days focused on culture, this provides a museum, a monument and two churches as different points of interest. This selection complements the historic architecture on Hemmerbuurt with further cultural destinations in the surrounding area.

There are also specific options for days involving more exercise or water: Mandela Park, Wilhelminapark, Julianapark and Snouck van Loosenpark are located in the vicinity of Hem. ’t Hemmerven is an outdoor swimming pool in Hem. From spring 2025, Suyder Cogge organised a historic walking tour through Hem.

Choose a holiday apartment in Hem by holiday theme

It makes sense to choose accommodation in Hem based on which of these themes you want to shape your stay: the townscape and culture, the landscape and routes, or the parks and outdoor pool. A holiday apartment or holiday home can therefore suit different travel plans without requiring you to commit to a single focus. This keeps the decision oriented towards the town’s specific features while leaving room for shared discoveries with people of different age groups.

Other places for regional orientation

For further travel planning, you can also include Hoogkarspel, Westwoud, Venhuizen, Schellinkhout, Oosterleek and Wijdenes.

For the higher-level travel overview: Drechterland.