Best of Hoorn

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Hoorn
Overlooking a large harbor, Hoorn was an important port city during the Dutch Golden Age. In the 17th century flourishing trade, powered by the Dutch East India Company, helped line the city with striking gabled buildings, many of which still stand today. Although the city has plenty of admirers from around the Netherlands, Hoorn remains little known among foreign visitors, and its old quarter makes an atmospheric setting for a day of exploring without the big crowds. 

You can learn about Hoorn’s illustrious past on a private cruise through the city’s historic harbor. For something a bit more active, you can go for a stand-up paddleboard excursion against the backdrop of Hoorn’s 17th-century architecture. Another fine way to experience the past is to hop aboard the vintage steam train that runs to Medemblik. The journey on the 1914 locomotive takes in memorable views, particularly in the spring when fields of tulips are in full bloom.  
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Children playing on the rocky shore of the North Sea
Family Tour of The Netherlands - 5 Days

Filled with outdoor adventures and cultural highlights, this family-friendly tour is a wonderful introduction to the Netherlands. Cruise the canals of Amsterdam in a private boat, take a steam train to Medemblik, and cycle through the sand dunes to the North Sea. If you're traveling in spring, you'll see colorful fields of tulips, but this five-day journey is a pleasure throughout the year.

Sailboats in the harbor of a Dutch fishing village
Map of Cycle Tour of North Holland - 5 Days
Cycle Tour of North Holland - 5 Days

Welcome to a self-guided cycling tour of the northern Netherlands! Windmills, tulips, cheese, clogs: these and other Dutch classics await you as you cycle through a region famous for its flower fields and coastline. You'll learn how local cheese is made, tour historic villages, and sleep on a restored cargo boat. March through May is the best time for this itinerary, but it's a great trip any time of year.

Reflections on the water in Alkmaar
Countryside Escape in Northern Holland - 5 Days

Dutch cheeses, charming fishing villages, fields of flowers: these are just a few of the pleasures that await you on this quick but colorful 5-day adventure. After a day exploring the canals and museums of Amsterdam, you'll head to Zaanse Schans to see some of Holland's famous windmills. Then continue to the northern countryside, basing yourself in the small cities of Hoorn and Alkmaar. Sample delicious cheeses in centuries-old cheese markets, cruise around a historic harbor on a private boat tour, and ride to the North Sea on an e-bike for a relaxing walk on the beach. Since distances between destinations are short, you'll spend less time traveling and more time enjoying the highlights of this beautiful region.

The National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam
Explore Dutch Seafaring History - 5 Days

Immerse yourself in the seafaring history of the Dutch Golden Age on this enlightening 5-day trip. The Dutch East India Company was extremely important in trade during the 17th and 18th centuries. Discover reminders of this rich past as you gaze upon naval scenes in Frans Hals’ paintings in Haarlem, stroll along city canals bordered by ancient warehouses in Middelburg, tour Hoorn's historic harbor, and ride an antique boat across IJsselmeer lake. You'll also travel on an old steam train, cycle to a coastal fort in Zeeland, and wander around a replica of an 18th-century cargo ship in Amsterdam.

On the carousel at Efteling theme park
Family Adventure in the Netherlands & Belgium - 14 Days

Bring the whole family along on this kid-friendly journey around the Netherlands and Belgium! Start with a cruise along the canals of Amsterdam and a visit to a futuristic science museum. Then ride an old steam train to Medemblik, where you'll board an antique ship to Enkhuizen, known for its cheese markets. Cycle through the sand dunes to the North Sea, spot colorful tulip fields, and feast on traditional stroopwafels before spending three days at a popular Dutch theme park. Then cross the border to Belgium, where you'll go on a food tour of Antwerp, stay at a real Belgian farm, and relax at the beach resort of De Panne. Offering a great mix of outdoor adventure and cultural education, this itinerary is a hit with travelers of all ages.

Other popular travel destinations in The Netherlands
Amsterdam · Rotterdam · Leiden · Haarlem · The Hague · Dordrecht · Delft · Texel · Bergen · Utrecht · Gouda · Nijmegen · Terschelling