City guide

Enkhuizen

Herring, VOC warehouses and the lost Zuiderzee.

The story of Enkhuizen

Enkhuizen grew rich on herring, and three of them sit in the town's coat of arms. Then came the Dutch East India Company (VOC), with its own chamber and warehouses by the water. When the Zuiderzee was closed off, the town lost its sea. The Zuiderzee Museum tells the whole story.

Enkhuizen is the end of the line from Amsterdam Centraal, approx. 1 hour by train. Station, marina and old town sit side by side, so you can do everything on foot. The Zuiderzee Museum has two parts: indoors, in and around the Peperhuis of 1625, and outdoors, a whole village of houses, workshops and boats from around the Zuiderzee. The open-air museum opens in season; check the website before you go. Then walk along the harbours to the Drommedaris, the old town gate of 1540. In summer, boats sail to Medemblik and to Stavoren in Friesland.

  • 1355Enkhuizen receives town rights
  • 3herrings in the coat of arms
  • 1602Enkhuizen becomes one of the six VOC chambers

Your museum day in Enkhuizen

One day, four moments. How to get the most out of your visit.

  1. 10:00MUSEUM
    Zuiderzee Museum Indoor and open-air museum, with time for the workshops.
  2. 13:00EAT
    Lunch in the museum village Smoked fish or a sandwich among the old houses.
  3. 16:00SHOP
    Westerstraat Shops and cafés along the long main street.
  4. 19:00SLEEP
    Hotel by the harbour Sleep by the water, with the Drommedaris in view.

Enkhuizen in six moments

  1. 1355Enkhuizen receives town rights.
  2. 1540The Drommedaris is built as a gate and defence tower on the harbour.
  3. 1572Early in the Revolt, Enkhuizen sides with William of Orange.
  4. 1596Jan Huygen van Linschoten publishes his Itinerario on the route to Asia.
  5. 1602Enkhuizen becomes one of the six chambers of the VOC.
  6. 1932The Afsluitdijk is completed: the Zuiderzee becomes the IJsselmeer and fishing declines.
  7. 1948The Zuiderzee Museum opens.
  8. 1975The Houtribdijk to Lelystad is completed, separating the Markermeer from the IJsselmeer.

What to do in Enkhuizen

Six places to complete your museum day.

  1. 01

    Zuiderzee Museum

    Indoors, discover life around the Zuiderzee through boats, art and traditional dress. Outdoors, walk through a whole village of houses and workshops, with craftspeople at work.

    WierdijkHalf to full day
  2. 02

    The Peperhuis

    This building of 1625 was a VOC warehouse and is now part of the Zuiderzee Museum's indoor museum.

    Wierdijk30 minutes
  3. 03

    The Drommedaris

    The town gate of 1540 guarded the harbour. Its tower has a carillon you can hear across the water.

    Oude Haven15 minutes
  4. 04

    Westerkerk

    The late Gothic church has a free-standing wooden bell tower and a richly carved choir screen.

    Westerstraat30 minutes
  5. 05

    Along the harbours

    From the Oude Haven via the Zuiderspui to the Buitenhaven: shipyards, warehouses and historic boats.

    Old town1 hour
  6. 06

    Westerstraat

    The long main street with Golden Age facades, shops and cafés.

    Old town1 hour

On the map

Plan your trip to Enkhuizen ↗
Hidden story

The book that gave away the route to Asia

A young man from Enkhuizen saw the Portuguese secret charts in Goa. His book opened the route for the Dutch.

Read the storyHide the story

Jan Huygen van Linschoten grew up in Enkhuizen. As a young man he travelled to Portugal and on to Goa in India, where he served the archbishop for years. He saw how the Portuguese ran their trade in Asia, and he got to see their sailing directions, which were strictly secret. In 1592 he came back to Enkhuizen. In 1596 his Itinerario appeared, with descriptions, maps and the routes to the Indies. Dutch merchants and sailors, who were just preparing their first voyages to Asia, read it eagerly. A few years later came the VOC. Van Linschoten stayed in Enkhuizen and died there in 1611.

Where: Old town, Enkhuizen

Beyond the city

Enkhuizen sits on a point between the Markermeer and the IJsselmeer. Across the water, Friesland is close.

Train from Enkhuizen, approx. 20 min

Hoorn

The other VOC town, with the Roode Steen, the Hoofdtoren and the heritage steam tram.

Route by public transport ↗
Boat from Enkhuizen (in season)

Medemblik

Harbour town with Radboud Castle. Go by boat and take the steam tram back to Hoorn.

Route by public transport ↗
Ferry to Stavoren (in season), then train or bike

Stavoren and Hindeloopen

Cross to Friesland: Stavoren is an old Hanseatic town, Hindeloopen a few kilometres further.

Route by public transport ↗

Travel times are indicative. Live times on 9292.nl ↗.

SLEEP

Stay in Enkhuizen, sail the IJsselmeer

Enkhuizen has hotels, B&Bs and even overnight stays on a boat. By train you are in Hoorn in 20 minutes. In summer, take the boat to Medemblik or cross to Stavoren in Friesland. In the evening the harbours are quiet and the sun sets over the water.

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Eat, shop and sleep in Enkhuizen

Restaurants, shops and hotels near the museums, picked for museum visitors.

EAT

Eat

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SHOP

Shop

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SLEEP

Sleep

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Nearby

All city and village guides →
3 museums Hoorn VOC harbour, sea heroes and a cape on the other side of the world. Hidden story: The ship that exploded, and the book everyone read Discover Hoorn → Theme The VOC Spices, ships and the cost of wealth. Hidden story: How Cape Horn got its name Discover The VOC → Village guide Hindeloopen Painted cupboards and sailors on the IJsselmeer. Hidden story: A sailors' language Discover Hindeloopen →