Daytrips and holidays in the Netherlands

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Welcome in Hoorn !

Information about Hoorn

Hoorn is a bustling town with something for everyone for a great day out. The town has a population of 70,000 and has many historical buildings. Hoorn has a charming harbour where the mighty ships of the Dutch East India Company used to sail to, laden with pepper and other spices.
Enjoy a lovely walk through Hoorn, with its town centre, streets and little lanes which take you back in time. After your walk, relax with a drink or a snack at one of the many outdoor cafés in the town or at the harbour.

The location and surrounding area of Hoorn

Hoorn lies in the north of Noord-Holland and is easy to reach by car or public transport. From the Centraal Station Hoorn railway station, it is just a three-minute walk to the centre. Hoorn lies on Lake IJssel and is therefore also very popular with water sports enthusiasts. Hoorn is surrounded by authentic villages, in a characteristic rural landscape. It is certainly worth going on a cycling trip around the area; and you can hire bikes from the bicycle shed next to the station.

All there is to do in Hoorn….

In the months of July and August, in Hoorn there are markets on a Wednesday, selling, among other things, books, antiques, curiosities, art works and home crafts. Each week the markets have a different theme, such as a clowns day, creativity, music, old-timers, Country and Western, sports and children’s activities. On Thursdays, cheese markets are held at the Roode Steen square, where the cheese porters put on a tremendous re-enactment. From the harbour you can go on a sailing trip on one of the ships from the ‘Brown Fleet’, former cargo sailing ships with brown sails.

Monuments

After Amsterdam and Haarlem, Hoorn is the third largest monumental city in Noord-Holland. A few monuments most certainly worth visiting are the Statenlogement building, the Hoofdtoren tower at the harbour, the Westfries Museum and the Oosterkerk church, surrounded by houses dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th century. To take in everything Hoorn has to offer, go on the city walk from the Freebee Map illustrated in the brochure which you can order from this site by means of an SMS service. Then you can be sure not to miss out anything.

Art and culture

Hoorn has a lot to offer in the way of art and culture, with its many museums such as:

The Westfries museum of regional history in the historical centre of Hoorn on the Roode Steen square. With its magnificent 17th century front adorned with statues of lions and the city arms, the museum is a complexity of stately halls, atmospheric rooms, high attics and mysterious cellars;
The Kijkdoos toy museum houses an impressive collection of toys from the past to the present;
For a memorable experience, hop aboard the authentic Hoorn-Medemblik museum steam tram and take a trip to Medemblik;
The Affichemuseum, with various exhibitions of historical and cultural posters.
If you like art and creativity, visit the largest art market in the Netherlands, held in September.

Shopping in Hoorn

In the centre of Hoorn, you will find various and original shops. The main shopping street is the Grote Noord, but don’t forget the smaller streets with their stylish shops, which are certainly worth a browse.

Eating out in Hoorn

Hoorn has numerous restaurants, cafés and outdoor cafés where you can enjoy a bite to eat or a drink. The Grote Noord street is not just good for shopping – you can also enjoy a refreshing cup of coffee or a delicious lunch at one of the outdoor cafés. Furthermore, the Roode Steen square has many excellent restaurants and cafés; and if you continue walking to the harbour, you will find plenty of atmospheric spots to stop for a drink or meal and enjoy the beautiful monuments and the activities going on at the harbour.

Nightlife in Hoorn

There is also plenty to do in the evening in Hoorn, with a variety of pubs and cafés where you can enjoy a pleasant evening, at the Roode Steen and the Kerkplein or in the little surrounding streets. Visit the Park-Schouwburg theatre at the Westerdijk along Lake IJssel, to take in a performance by the best theatrical groups in the Netherlands. The theatre often holds premieres. The Manifesto pop and culture centre, located on the Holenweg, holds concerts, dances and cabaret performances for young people.

Events in Hoorn

  • Outdoor Stereo Festival in August, for dance fans, held in the park at Lake IJssel;
  • Hoornse Stadsfeesten, mainly a musical event, with theatre, cabaret, and film showings throughout the town;
  • Two fun fairs. A small fun fair is held near the railway station in the spring; with a fun fair in August, taking over much of the town centre, and the second largest in the Netherlands. Great fun for both young and old.

The events calendar in the Freebee Map gives an overview of events going on in Hoorn.

Directions

Plan your route with the Google® Maps planner. (You will be redirected to the Google® Maps website)

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