Friesland
3
Day Itinerary •
Netherlands
Three days in Friesland and the North reveal the most extraordinary combination of UNESCO tidal landscape, Frisian cultural heritage and flat cycling paradise in the Netherlands. The leaning Oldehove tower of Leeuwarden, the Mata Hari birthplace, the sailing lakes of Sneek, the extraordinary Wadlopen mudflat walk across the Wadden Sea, Texel island's seal colonies and the prehistoric hunebedden megalithic tombs of Drenthe are all within reach of a northern base. This route moves from the European Capital of Culture Leeuwarden through the extraordinary Frisian sailing lakes and the Wadden Sea mudflat walk to the finest city in the north Netherlands at Groningen with its extraordinary museum building and its proximity to the finest star fortress in the world at Bourtange. Three extraordinary days in the finest undiscovered region of the Netherlands.
Best Time To Visit
May to September
Getting There
Train from Amsterdam Centraal 2 hours
Getting Around
Bicycle and train, car for Texel day
Budget Per Day
Approx 95 to 225 EUR per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, flat cycling
DAY 1
LEEUWARDEN, THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE
MORNING
LEEUWARDEN, THE FINEST PROVINCIAL CAPITAL IN THE NORTH NETHERLANDS
Leeuwarden was the European Capital of Culture 2018 and is the most extraordinary provincial capital in the north Netherlands, its extraordinary Fries Museum with the finest Frisian Silver collection in the world and the remarkable account of Mata Hari who was born here in 1876, the extraordinary Oldehove leaning tower more dramatically tilted than the tower at Pisa and the remarkable Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics giving the finest cultural experience in the north. Fries Museum approx 15 euros. Train/Travel: 30 min train from Amsterdam
MIDDAY
THE FRISIAN LAKE DISTRICT AND THE FINEST SAILING WATERS IN THE NETHERLANDS
The Frisian Lake District of Sneek, Sloten and the Sneekermeer is the most extraordinary sailing landscape in the Netherlands, its extraordinary network of lakes, canals and waterways connecting the finest historic fortified town of Sloten with Sneek, the capital of Dutch sailing culture, and the remarkable Heeg watersport village giving the finest inland sailing experience in the country. Sloten is the smallest walled town in the Netherlands. Entry to Sloten free. Train/Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
SNEEK AND THE FINEST WATERGATE IN FRIESLAND
Sneek is the most extraordinary sailing town in Friesland, its remarkable Waterpoort watergate from 1613, the finest historic harbour gate in the north Netherlands, and the extraordinary Sneek Week sailing regatta held every August, the largest inland sailing event in the Netherlands. The Fries Scheepvaart Museum gives the finest account of Frisian maritime heritage. Museum approx 8 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Mata Hari House at Kelders 33 in Leeuwarden is the birthplace of the most famous spy in history, Margaretha Zelle who became Mata Hari and was executed by France in 1917. The extraordinary small house in the heart of Leeuwarden and the Fries Museum collection of her remarkable possessions
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: De Engel, Leeuwarden Outstanding Frisian breakfast at the finest traditional hotel in Leeuwarden. Local Frisian rye bread and butter. | Lunch: Cafe de Waag, Sneek Outstanding Frisian lunch on the finest market square in Sneek. Local smoked eel and Frisian cheese. | Dinner: Eetcafe de Ossekop, Leeuwarden The finest traditional restaurant in Leeuwarden. Outstanding Frisian cuisine and local Beerenburg jenever.
DAY 2
THE WADDEN SEA AND WADLOPEN
MORNING
TEXEL ISLAND, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY NATURE ISLAND IN THE NETHERLANDS
Texel is the most extraordinary island in the Netherlands, its extraordinary De Slufter tidal inlet nature reserve, the remarkable De Muy grey seal breeding colony and the finest bird ringing station in the country at the Vogeltrekstation giving the finest wildlife experience on the Wadden Islands. The Ecomare seal rehabilitation centre houses orphaned seals. The North Sea beach is 23km long. Ferry from Den Helder approx 4.80 euros. Entry to Ecomare approx 13.50 euros. Train/Travel: 1.5 hours train and ferry
MIDDAY
WADLOPEN, THE EXTRAORDINARY MUDFLAT WALKING OF THE WADDEN SEA
Wadlopen through the Wadden Sea tidal flats between the mainland and the Wadden Islands is the most extraordinary outdoor activity in the Netherlands, guided walks at low tide across the exposed seabed revealing extraordinary mudflat life including cockles, lugworms and shrimp, with the extraordinary experience of being surrounded by open sea with the mainland and islands both visible. Tours from Pieterburen or Holwerd from approx 25 euros. Train/Travel: Drive to departure point
AFTERNOON
THE WIERUM TERP AND THE FINEST SEA DYKE IN FRIESLAND
The Wierum terp village in northern Friesland sits on the most extraordinary artificial mound in the Netherlands, a man-made hill built over centuries before the dykes existed to keep the settlement above the North Sea flood level. The extraordinary sea dyke walk from Wierum gives the finest view of the Wadden Sea mudflats and the island of Ameland on the horizon. Entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Amsteldiepdijk near Sint Maartensdijk is the most extraordinary straight dyke in Friesland, a perfectly straight 12km sea dyke with the Waddenzee on one side and extraordinary polder farmland on the other, a cycling route of unparalleled flatness and simplicity. The dyke sheep grazing on the grass slopes are extraordinary.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Ecomare restaurant, Texel Outstanding Texel breakfast at the finest nature centre restaurant on the island. Local Texel lamb and cheese. | Lunch: De Krim, Texel Outstanding island lunch at the finest resort restaurant on Texel. Local Texel sheep cheese is extraordinary. | Dinner: Het Wapen van Friesland, Leeuwarden Outstanding Frisian dinner at the finest traditional hotel restaurant. Local wild duck and Frisian rye.
DAY 3
GRONINGEN AND THE FINEST CITY IN THE NORTH
MORNING
GRONINGEN, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY UNIVERSITY CITY IN THE NORTH NETHERLANDS
Groningen is the most extraordinary city in the northern Netherlands, its extraordinary Groninger Museum by Alessandro Mendini in the canal, the finest museum building in the north of the country, the remarkable Martinitoren at 97 metres the finest Gothic church tower in the north, the extraordinary Forum Groningen cultural centre and the remarkable cycling culture with the finest bicycle density of any city in the Netherlands making it the finest northern city. Groninger Museum approx 17 euros. Train/Travel: 1.5 hours train
MIDDAY
THE AA-KERK AND THE FINEST HIDDEN CHURCH IN GRONINGEN
The Aa-Kerk in central Groningen is the most extraordinary and least visited church in the north Netherlands, its remarkable 15th-century nave, the extraordinary organ by Arp Schnitger from 1702 considered one of the finest historic organs in the world, and the remarkable connection to the northern seafaring heritage of Groningen making it the finest hidden heritage site in the city. Entry approx 2 euros. Train/Travel: 15 min walk
AFTERNOON
THE GRONINGEN CYCLING ROUTES AND THE HUNEBEDDEN
The Drenthe hunebedden, prehistoric megalithic dolmens built between 3400 and 2850 BC, are the most extraordinary prehistoric monuments in the Netherlands, their extraordinary granite boulders weighing up to 25 tonnes transported by glacial action from Scandinavia and arranged in the finest megalithic burial chambers in northwest Europe. The Hunebedcentrum museum at Borger gives the finest context. Museum approx 9 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Bourtange star fortress near Groningen is the most perfectly preserved 16th-century star-shaped fortress in the world, its extraordinary pentagonal ramparts, moat and drawbridges entirely intact from 1580. The village inside the fortress is the finest living heritage site in the north Netherlands. Entry approx 8 euros. Almost entirely unknown
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Goudkantoor, Groningen Outstanding breakfast at the finest heritage cafe in Groningen in the extraordinary 1635 gold office building. | Lunch: Eetcafe Mulder, Groningen Outstanding Groningen lunch at the most characterful student cafe in the north Netherlands. | Dinner: De Pauw, Groningen The finest restaurant in Groningen. Outstanding northern Netherlands seasonal cuisine. Book ahead.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Leeuwarden, All Nights Hotel de Pauw or Oranje Hotel. Approx 80 to 160 euros per night. Sneek option Night 2 Hotel Hanenburg or Sneek sailing resort. Approx 70 to 140 euros per night.
Top Tips
1. Wadlopen Pieterburen: book the Waddenvereniging guided crossing months ahead. The finest outdoor experience in NL.
2. Texel De Slufter: the tidal inlet nature reserve is finest at high tide when the salt marsh floods. Go at dawn.
3. Groninger Museum: the Mendini building exterior is the finest in the north. Visit at dusk for the best light.
4. Sloten rampart walk: the complete circuit of the smallest walled town takes 20 minutes. Entirely free.
5. Elfstedentocht cycling route: download the ANWB Elfstedentocht cycling route for the summer version.
6. Frisian cuisine: try spiering fish, Frisian rye bread, Frisian sugar bread and local Beerenburg jenever.
Total Budget
95 to 220 EUR/day