Page 18 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

16  INTRODUCING THE NE THERLANDS

A Circular Tour Day 4: Vollenhove and
from Amsterdam Giethoorn
Traversing the polder landscape,
• Duration Seven days – if visitors soon reach minuscule
travelling by bike, consider Vollenhove (p321), once an
building in extra rest stops important seaport. Allow an hour
and extending to 10 days. to explore the village, and then
• Arriving This tour starts and push on east to Giethoorn
ends in Amsterdam. (p322), one of the country’s most
unusual villages, with a string of
• Transport The towns in
this itinerary are readily old thatched farmhouses dotting
accessible by train, but local a network of peaty canals. Take a
buses do not run regularly, boat ride here; spare some time
so visitors will need a car to to explore the unspoiled
travel to the villages. For the wetlands of De Weerribben
energetic visitor, this tour (p321) conservation area. Boat travelling along the waterways of
can be done by bike. Giethoorn, Overijssel
Day 5: Staphorst to Zwolle
Take a detour south from Veluwemeer, the narrow
Giethoorn to Staphorst (p324), waterway separating the
Day 1: Marken to Volendam an old-fashioned village whose mainland from reclaimed polder
See the famous stilt houses of elongated main street is flanked lands. See the medieval town
Marken (p178), a tiny village by thatched farmhouses. Visit on gates, pop into the St
perched on an island in the Sunday morning when the locals Nicolaaskerk and drop by the
Markermeer. Learn more of the head off to church in traditional Gementeemuseum Elburg
island’s heritage at the Marker costume (note: taking photos is (p340), where pride of place goes
Museum (p178), which occupies considered impolite). Continue to a fine collection of silverware,
six old island houses. Continue to Zwolle (p320), a distinguished once the property of the local
up the coast to Volendam city whose star-shaped fort- guild of sailors.
(p178), where a dyke still ifications encase a centre of
protects the village. narrow lanes, elegant squares Day 7: Amersfoort
and attractive old buildings. Visit Head southwest along the
Day 2: Edam and Enkhuizen the Grote Kerk (p320) for its Veluwemeer waterway towards
Edam (p178) is extremely pretty, splendid interior, the Stedelijk Amersfoort (p210), a medium-
its cluster of ancient houses Museum (p320) for its Golden sized town whose ancient centre
huddled around a network of Age period rooms, and the Paleis is still encircled by canals. Visit
narrow canals and swing bridges. aan de Blijmarkt (p320) for its the key attractions: the splendid
Allow an hour to explore Edam exhibitions of contemporary art. Koppelpoort, one of three
and then move on to Enkhuizen Last but not least, stroll along the surviving medieval gates; the
(p182), a handsome old seaport harbour, where vintage canal soaring Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren
with a splendid harbour in the boats are polished and scrubbed (the Tower of the Church of Our
lee of a mighty, defensive tower, to delightful effect. Lady); and the Mondriaanhuis
the Drommedaris (p182). Finish (p210), a museum in the former
the day at Enkhuizen’s excellent Day 6: Elburg home of artist Pier Mondriaan.
Zuiderzeemuseum (p180). Discover the gentle charms of Allow an hour or so to cover the
Elburg (p340), a former Zuiderzee 50 km (31 miles) back from
Day 3: Urk seaport that now sits beside the Amersfoort to Amsterdam.
Cross the Markerwaarddijk from
Enkhuizen to reach the outskirts
of Lelystad (p331), a modern
town whose main pull is the
replica 17th-century sailing ship
on the Bataviawerf (p331).
Pushing on, it’s a short haul to
Urk (p330), an intriguing little
place and one-time island fishing
village now attached to the
mainland. Grab a plate of seafood
before continuing on to the
delightful Schokland Museum
(p330). Just like Urk, Schokland
was once an island and the
remains of the old fishing village
are fascinating. The medieval gate of Koppelpoort in Amersfoort
For practical information on travelling around the Netherlands, see pp432–49

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