Holiday apartment in Hoorn: History, harbour and Markermeer

Hoorn combines city and beach on the Markermeer. Between the historic city centre, harbour, canals and city beach, it is a destination where culture, water and walks come together. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Hoorn, you can tailor your days to your interests, alternating between the city’s history, maritime impressions and relaxing hours by the water.

History in the city centre and at the harbour

The historic city centre of Hoorn is designated as a protected townscape. Its rich history is reflected in numerous monuments and archaeological sites. One particularly tangible example is the Oosterpoort: it was built in 1578 and is the only surviving city gate in Hoorn. You can walk through the streets of the historic city centre and link various historical sites along the way.

History can also be experienced vividly at the harbour. The Museum van de 20e Eeuw presents life in the past century through hundreds of objects and dozens of period rooms. It is housed in a former prison on Oostereiland in Hoorn’s harbour. The Westfries Museum, the Jan Pieterszoon Coen monument, the Koepelkerk and the Oosterkerk are also located in the vicinity of Hoorn.

Holiday apartment in Hoorn for varied days

Another perspective on the city is offered by the experience “Ontdek het verhaal van Hoorn”. It combines a multimedia show in the Statenpoort with a podwalk through the city centre or along the harbour of Hoorn. This brings different ways of discovering the city together: You can explore historic sites on foot or experience the city’s history through digital and audio elements.

The Museumstoomtram is also part of the excursion programme. The return journey from Hoorn to Medemblik begins and ends at Tramstation Hoorn. At Tramstation Hoorn, visitors can see the De Tijdlijn exhibition, an operational signal box and the SpoorTuin. This allows you to complement a day in Hoorn with a train ride and several attractions located directly at Tramstation Hoorn.

Canals, inner harbour and beach

Hoorn reveals its maritime side on the canals, where visitors can travel alongside large ships. The inner harbour can be enjoyed from terraces or during a walk along the quays. The Markermeer offers a special view of Hoorn. These different perspectives from the water make a stay appealing if you would like to combine sightseeing with open views across the waterfront and relaxing walks.

Hoorn is located on the Markermeer and combines city and beach. At Stadsstrand Hoorn, visitors can play, relax or enjoy sports. The Wilhelminapark and Julianapark are also located in the vicinity of Hoorn. In the wider regional surroundings of Hoorn lies the island of Marken; the Snouck van Loosenpark is also located in this wider regional area. This allows you to focus on different priorities when choosing your holiday apartment: historic streets and museums, harbour and water, or excursions into the wider regional surroundings.

For the main travel overview: Hoorn.