Eleven Frisian towns and surroundings

Destinations / Netherlands / Friesland / Eleven Frisian towns and surroundings

• Trip duration: 7 days
• Type of cruise: circular tour

Our Frisian adventure called "Eleven Frisian Towns" will start in Koudum, a Frisian town located in the south-west of the province.

The so-called Eleven Frisian Towns include Leeuwarden, Sneek, IJlst, Sloten, Stavoren, Hindeloopen, Workum, Bolsward, Harlingen, Franeker and Dokkum. In very hard winters, the Eleven Cities Long Distance Speed Skating Race is held on the frozen waterways that connect these towns. This race has been a tradition since 1909. But beware! The race is only open to residents of one of the eleven towns and will only take place if the ice thickness exceeds a full 15 cm.

From Koudum we recommend the route Koudum – Hindeloopen – Stavoren – Sloten – Sneek – Leeuwarden – Dokkum (the northernmost point of the route) – Franeker – Harlingen – Bolsward – Koudum

We bring you a taste of the best of each. Even the surrounding towns and villages that are not directly part of the so-called Eleven Cities are worth a visit. It would be a sin to miss Lemmer, for example, one of the most important water sports towns. This route is quite demanding in terms of kilometres. It's up to you how much time you can spare and how far you go, which towns you decide to visit and which ones you decide to skip for a change.

Hindeloopen

Hindeloopen is situated on the IJselmeer. It has been considered a town of art for centuries. Due to its location by the sea, it has been highly cosmopolitan since the Middle Ages, which is also reflected in the local language. To this day, you can still encounter the archaic dialect "Hindeloopian", which is a mixture of many European languages.

Stavoren

The former Hanseatic city of Stavoren was granted city rights as early as the 11th century. This town is also located on the IJsselmeer and is considered the oldest town in the area. If the weather favours you, visit the local beach and do water sports.

Sloten

Sloten is the smallest of the eleven Frisian towns. Near this town you will find a working mill.

IJlst

If you drive just 3 km from Sneek, you will arrive in another of the so-called Eleven Towns, IJlst. IJlst is a small town with only 4,000 inhabitants. The name of this town is derived from the IJ River. You will be amazed by the beautiful historic canals that are lined with greenery.

Sneek

Sneek is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts. The town is located south-west of the Frisian capital, Leeuwarden. Sneek is also a centre of trade and industry. For example, sweets are produced here.

Leeuwarden

Leeuwarden has always been the cradle of Frisian culture. It is also the starting and finishing point of the Eleven Cities Race every year. The main landmark of the town is the so-called leaning tower (Oldehove). Also worth a visit is the historic commercial centre (Waag) and the residence of the Dutch royal family — the Stadhouderlijk Hof. Mata Hari, the oriental dancer who came to prominence as a secret agent for Germany and France, was born in Leeuwarden.

Dokkum

Dokkum is the northernmost town on the route. There is a nature museum here and the picturesque town centre, which in the past boasted five windmills, will certainly captivate you. Today, only two windmills are open to the public.

Franeker

Franeker is home to the oldest working planetarium in the Netherlands. Another unique feature of the town is the Arkens windmill, which was built around the middle of the 19th century on a site just north of its current location. It was moved in 1972.

Harlingen

The town of Harlingen is located directly on the shores of the Waddenzee (the coastal part of the North Sea, this part is characterised by extensive and protracted sandbanks and is ecologically very important). In Harlingen you can stay in the former lighthouse, which now serves as a hotel and is a landmark of the Harlingen docks.

Bolsward

Bolsward has a beautiful 17th century town hall, and there is also a mill nearby. The former trading town gained its town rights in the 15th century. A traditional festival celebrating the harvest is held here every June. Music lovers will enjoy a four-day music festival in August.

Workum

A town that boasts many medieval monuments is Workum. The town's 4 windmills are a major landmark. In addition to the windmills, there is also a museum dedicated to the famous Frisian artist Jopie Huisman, who was born in Workum.