Page 17 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

DISC OVERING THE NE THERLANDS  15

A Week in the North (p277), the smallest of the
and the Islands Waddenzee islands, whose sand
dunes stretch out along its
• Arriving Head from northern shore. Take a hike or a
Amsterdam to Alkmaar. bike ride along one of the many
• Transport Hoorn, Enkhuizen, trails, or hunker down in the
Leeuwarden, Harlingen and island‘s one and only village,
Groningen are easy to reach Oost-Vlieland (p277), where
by train, and there are there is an interesting museum,
regular daily ferries from the Tromp’s Huys (p277).
Harlingen to Vlieland,
Holwerd to Ameland, and Day 4: Terschelling
from Harlingen and Vlieland Take the ferry from Harlingen or
to Terschelling. However, to Vlieland to Terschelling (p278).
complete this itinerary, hiring The first port of call will be West-
a car is essential. Terschelling (p278), a lovely little
village that houses the Museum
’t Behouden Huys (p278). Transporting cheeses at Alkmaar cheese
Day 1: Alkmaar Wander through the village, a market, North Holland
Heading north out of popular summer resort, and then
Amsterdam, stop at Alkmaar cycle out across the island, either old houses, and then push on to
(p185), whose charming old to the dunes and beaches of the Lauwersoog (p290), a tiny village
centre is encircled by olive-green north coast or to the woods and deep in the countryside, and
canals. On Friday mornings, the mud flats of the south. Uithuizen (p291), where you can
main square comes alive with the sign up for a guided walk across
town’s famous cheese market. Day 5: Ameland the mud flats (an activity known
Afterwards, be sure to visit Hoorn Catch the ferry from Holwerd to as wadlopen in Dutch). Also visit
(p182), an old Zuiderzee seaport Ameland (p278) and arrive in Pieterburen for its Seal Sanctuary,
with a fine ensemble of old the village of Nes (p278). Here, the Zeehondencrèche (p291).
buildings, as well as the Westfries choose between the mud flats,
Museum (p182). Moving along marshland and bird reserves of Day 7: Groningen
the coast, you soon reach the south coast and the sand Don’t miss out on Groningen
Enkhuizen (p182), another dunes of the north, but be sure (pp284–9), a bustling city flush
handsome former seaport and to visit tiny Hollum (p279), a with excellent restaurants and a
the home of the outstanding picturesque hamlet of old busy nightlife. Spend the morn-
Zuiderzeemuseum (pp180–81). seafarers’ cottages and thatched ing exploring the city centre;
farmhouses fanning out from a highlights include the imposing
Day 2: Friesland delightful country church. Martinikerk (p286) and the
Drive north from Enkhuizen to delightful Prinsenhof Gardens
cross the Waddenzee via the Day 6: Dokkum to (p287). The big attraction,
Afsluitdijk (p168), thus reaching Pieterburen however, is the Groninger
the province of Friesland Head to Dokkum (p300), an Museum (pp288–9), where a
(pp295–305) at a point near the ancient town where the Christian wide-ranging art collection is
exquisitely pretty waterside missionary St Boniface met a housed in a splendid modern
hamlet of Hindeloopen (p302). grisly end. Explore the town building designed by Alessandro
Proceed northeast from here to centre with its pretty canals and Mendini and opened in 1994.
reach Sneek (p303), a relaxing
little village famous for its sailing
clubs, and Leeuwarden (p300), a
good-looking town well worth
an afternoon’s wanderings.
Admire the wonderful ceramic
collection at Het Princessehof
(p300), and allow some time for
the Fries Museum (p300) with
its displays on all things Frisian.
Day 3: Harlingen to Vlieland
Begin the day amid the
maritime atmosphere of
Harlingen (p301), an ancient
seaport where vintage sailing
boats crowd the harbour. Then,
catch the ferry over to Vlieland Spritsail barges in Sneek, Friesland

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