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Around IJsselmeer

The IJsselmeer boasts many attractions and sights. The vast lake is a fantastic destination for fans of water sports and boating. There are also countless beaches overlooking IJsselmeer and Markermeer lakes. Go for a day trip with a historic sailing ship, discover new nature on the Marker Wadden or visit Batavialand in Lelystad. Batavialand will teach you all about how Flevoland was reclaimed and how the Dutch battle the water. At the Zuiderzeemuseum in Enkhuizen, you will experience how people lived and worked around the IJsselmeer.

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Port cities and authentic towns

There are both modern port cities and traditional Dutch villages and cities around IJsselmeer and Markermeer lakes. Typical fishing villages include Monnickendam, Marken, Volendam, and Urk.

Edam is a real cheese city. Hoorn and Enkhuizen are old trading towns with a rich history. Stavoren is an old Hanseatic city. The Frisian towns of Workum and Hindeloopen are near Stavoren.

Read more about the towns & cities

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    Lelystad

    Find out what the capital of Flevoland has to offer.

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    Almere

    Almere, the newest city in the Netherlands, has modern architecture, great shops and lovely nature.

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    Volendam

    Visit the fishing village of Volendam and discover its harbour, De Dijk, traditional Volendam dress and the museums, and spent the night in Marinapark Volendam.

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    Monnickendam

    A small town with a grand history.

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    Marken

    The traditions of yesteryear live on in Marken. Walk through the harbor and be amazed at the authentic wooden houses.

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    Medemblik

    Visit the oldest city in West-Friesland off IJsselmeer lake.

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    Edam

    For most people Edam is synonymous with cheese.

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    Hoorn

    The former Dutch East India Company town has a fantastic beach on offer on the IJsselmeer lake.

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    Enkhuizen

    A small town packed with historical buildings and monuments.

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    Workum

    Discover the beautiful, water-rich Workum, one of the Frisian Eleven Cities.

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    Hindeloopen

    Picturesque coastal village with unique traditions, historical sights and a seafaring past.

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    Stavoren

    The town with the famous tale of the Lady of Stavoren.

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    Giethoorn

    Prepare to be smitten by small lakes, reedbeds and characteristic bridges that can be found in the idyllic village of Giethoorn.

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    Naarden

    One of the best preserved fortified towns in Europe.

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    Schokland

    Visit this former island in Flevoland and discover its many monuments and archaeological treasures.

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    Urk

    Visit this former island in the Zuider Zee and discover the unique culture and history of Urk.

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Things to see and do at IJsselmeer lake

Walking and cycling are popular activities around IJsselmeer lake. There are bicycle and hiking routes around IJsselmeer, across the Afsluitdijk and through natural areas like Oostvaardersplassen and Weerribben.

True fanatics even ride around the entire lake, easily 300 kilometers. There is also plenty to see and do on IJsselmeer lake itself, for instance sailing, taking kite surfing lessons, or hiring a row or motor boat. Medemblik is beloved by water sports fanatics.

There are several small beaches around IJsselmeer and Markermeer lakes. In North Holland, you can find the following beaches off IJsselmeer and Markermeer lakes:
Strand Enkhuizen, Vooroever Andijk, Strand Zuiderhaven, Strandje van Schellinkhout, Enkhuizer Zand, Broekerhaven, Schellinkhouterdijk and Havenstrandje Marken.

Flevoland also boasts a number of small beaches off both IJsselmeer and Markermeer lakes. A special beach can be found on the Marker Wadden, an island in Markermeer lake.

Friesland also has a number of beaches off IJsselmeer lake: Lemmer beach, Mirnserklif, Makkumerstrand, Beach ’t Séleantsje Molkwerum, Badpaviljoen IJsselmeer Hindeloopen and It Suderstrand Stavoren.

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    The Afsluitdijk

    Drive along the 32 km Afsluitdijk between fresh and saltwater from North Holland to Friesland. Discover more about this dike and causeway.

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    IJsselmeer Tour by bicycle

    The IJsselmeer Tour is an eight-day bicycle route through a unique, quintessentially Dutch landscape.

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    The Markermeer

    Sail across the Markermeer. Enjoy peace and quiet on the water, near Amsterdam

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    Southwest Fryslân

    Find out why this part of Friesland is a feast for boaters, cyclists, hikers and bird watchers.

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Sightseeing around the IJsselmeer

There is a wide variety of attractions on and around IJsselmeer lake. The fortress island of Pampus is a perfect place to visit in IJmeer lake. Learn all about the Stelling van Amsterdam defense works and life of the soldiers that used to live on the island. The Afsluitdijk is a 332 kilometer dike and one of the most popular water works in the Netherlands. When you visit, don’t forget to check out the Afsluitdijk Wadden Center. Here, you can experience the story of the Afsluitdijk, the IJsselmeer region, the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the fish migration river. Batavialand is a fun attraction if you have children. You can explore the replica of the VOC ship Batavia, discover the workshops, and learn all about how Flevoland was created.

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Events

Where to eat & sleep

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5x eating fish in Volendam

Try the tastiest of fish dishes at one of these establishments.

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Eating by the water’s edge in Flevoland

Flevoland has the most special places where you can eat at the water’s edge. Take a look at our tips here!

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Spend the night on the water in Flevoland

Sleep inside a floating ‘water bubble’ or wake up to a gorgeous view of the water.

Spend time in nature

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    Oostvaardersplassen

    One of the newest nature reserves of the Netherlands has rapidly developed itself into an area of global significance.

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    Marker Wadden

    Sail to the freshwater wadden islands in Markermeer lake, the youngest part of Flevoland.

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    Weerribben-Wieden National Park

    Rent a canoe or take a boat trip on an electric boat through this unique Dutch wetland.

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    Wadden Sea

    You are guaranteed to have a special time when you go on vacation in an area listed as a World Heritage Site.

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    Schokland

    Visit this former island in Flevoland and discover its many monuments and archaeological treasures.

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