Information about Hoorn

Hoorn is a bustling city and is worth a nice day out for everyone. The city has 70,000 inhabitants and has many historic houses. Hoorn has a beautiful harbor where once the mighty ships of the Dutch East India Company sailed in, laden with pepper and other spices. In Hoorn you can take beautiful walks, the center, the streets and alleys around it offer beautiful glimpses into the past. After the walk, settle down at one of the many terraces in town or at the harbor.

The location and surrounding area of Hoorn

Hoorn is located in the northern part of North Holland and is easily accessible by car or public transportation. From Hoorn Station it is a three-minute walk to the center. Hoorn lies on the Markermeer and is therefore also very attractive for water sports enthusiasts. Around Hoorn are beautiful villages in a characteristic rural setting. It is definitely worth taking a bike ride in the area.

What to do in Hoorn

In the months of July and August there are Wednesday markets in Hoorn offering books, antiques, curiosities, art and home crafts, among other things. The markets each week have a different theme such as, country and western, creative, music, vintage cars, sports and children's activities. From the harbor you can take a sailing day trip with one of the ships of the Bruine Vloot. At the Watertaxi you can rent a whisper boat daily for a wonderful trip on the water.

Monuments

Hoorn is the third monument city of North Holland after Amsterdam and Haarlem. Some monuments that you should not miss are the Statenlogement, the Hoofdtoren at the harbor, the West Frisian Museum, the Oosterkerk, surrounded by houses from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and De Waag dating from 1608. If you want to see the most beautiful places in Hoorn, you can walk the Freebee Map city walk, which is in the brochure or you can walk it using our mobile website. Then you will be sure to see everything Hoorn has to offer.

Art and culture

There is much to see in Hoorn when it comes to art and culture, as Hoorn also has much to offer in terms of museums, such as:

- The West Frisian Museum in the historic heart of Hoorn on the Roode Steen. Behind a 17th-century façade full of lions and city arms is a complex with stately halls, intimate rooms, high attics and mysterious cellars. Due to a major renovation, you can now visit the Statenlogement.

- Museum Steam Tram Hoorn-Medemblik. Take a trip to Medemblik on this old steam streetcar. A real experience.

- Museum of the Twentieth Century, located on Oostereiland. The museum houses hundreds of objects and many period rooms from the twentieth century. For young and old.

- Are you a lover of creativity and art? Then visit the largest art market in the Netherlands in September.

Shopping in Hoorn

In the center of Hoorn you will find different and original stores. The Grote Noord is the main shopping street but also in the smaller streets there are nice stores, which are certainly worthwhile to browse around.

 

Eating and drinking in Hoorn

Hoorn is richly endowed with restaurants, eateries, cafes and terraces where it is good to linger. The Grote Noord is not only fun for shopping but you can also enjoy a delicious cup of coffee or a tasty lunch at one of the many terraces. Excellent catering establishments can also be found on the Roode Steen and the Kerkplein, and if you walk on to the harbor, you will find many atmospheric places to fortify the inner man and enjoy the beautiful monuments and the bustle on the water.

Out in Hoorn

There is also plenty to do in the evening in Hoorn. There are several pubs and cafes where you can spend an enjoyable evening. You can find them on the Roode Steen and on the Kerkplein.  In the surrounding streets you will find even more entertainment. On the Westerdijk at the Markermeer you will find the Park Schouwburg, here you can enjoy a wonderful evening of performances by Holland's best theater companies. Often the latest performances are given here first. The Pop and Culture Center Manifesto, for concerts, dance and cabaret for young people, can be found on the Holenweg.

 

Events in Hoorn

- Hoorn City Festival in June, mainly a musical event, with forays into theater, cabaret and film.

- Hoorn Fair, there are two fairs in Hoorn. In spring a small fair near the train station and in August the big fair that winds through much of downtown Hoorn. It is the second largest fairground in the Netherlands.

- The Fiets4daagse this is organized every year by Le Champion with the cooperation of the municipality of Hoorn and is a big party every year!

- West-Frisian Water Weeks, late August, Hoorn is the main stage of this spectacular event for young and old, with water games, theater on the water, culinary on the quay, musical performances, in short, something for everyone.

- The Freebee Map events calendar lists the current events with the exact dates in Hoorn.