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Itinerary: Circumnavigating The Ijsselmeer
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This two-week trip, covering 570km, provides a taste of Dutch life on the open sea. It passes through historically important nautical towns, holiday islands and water-sports centres.
A practical place to start this tour is Amsterdam; three days in the capital will whiz by in a blur of museums, parks, canal tours and nightlife. From here, head north along the IJsselmeer coast through the Waterland Region to the tiny fishing village of Marken where a ferry will transport you across the inland sea to Voldendam. Enjoy a meal overlooking the harbour, but escape the crowds to Edam, which comes second only to Haarlem as the prettiest town in Noord Holland. Overnight here before reaching Alkmaar early to experience its kitsch but fun cheese market, then spend the afternoon wandering through Enkhuizen’s enthralling Zuiderzeemuseum.
The next morning catch a bus to Den Helder, and from there a ferry to Texel. Spend two days (or the entire two weeks…) dividing your time between the beach and bike exploration, then take another ferry to Vlieland to appreciate the wilder side of the Frisian Islands. From Vlieland, a ferry will take you back to the mainland and dump you at Harlingen, from where Leeuwarden is only a short train ride away. Friesland’s capital is not only a good spot to enjoy Frisian hospitality, but it’s also a fine base for exploring the surrounding area; the water sports centre of Sneek is close at hand, as are a chain of captivating coastal towns on the IJsselmeer.
The train trip from Leeuwarden to Amsterdam completes the circumnavigation of the IJsselmeer, but it’s worth breaking your journey in Naarden and Muiden, two of Noord Holland’s historical fortress towns.
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