Enkhuizen

Enkhuizen is a popular excursion harbor in the northern part of the IJsselmeer. In the summer months there are also regular boat connections to Stavoren and Urk. The city has a railway connection via Hoorn, Purmerend and Zaanstad with Amsterdam. Over the middle dike (Houtribdijk), which separates the IJsselmeer from the Markermeer, a road leads to Lelystad.For the Enkhuizer economy fishing is no longer important, in contrast to tourism (water sports, downtown). Farming is also very important: there is a lot of cabbage and other vegetables grown in the area; You also grow ornamental flowers and plants. The trade, also the export, the sowing of these plants is extensive.Around the year 1000 there was already a settlement here. In 1296 the already significant village of Enkhuizen was partly burnt down in a dispute that cost the life of Count Floris V. The town received in 1355 the city law. It was in the Middle Ages several times starting point of disputes between the Frisians, the Dutch and the Duchy of money. Enkhuizen became an important center of herring fisheries; more and more new harbors were created and by 1600 300 of the 500 herring fishing boats in Holland were active from Enkhuizen. When the Dutch East India Company was established in 1603, it also set up a branch in Enkhuizen. The city was thus a major seaport. At the end of its heyday in 1652 Enkhuizen was a city for the then circumstances with over 25,000 inhabitants. The city center was larger than it is now; the Kuhtor and the remains of the city walls are located in an area that is now the outer area.The relapse was caused by the trade competition in the domestic (Amsterdam) and foreign (England). Enkhuizen became, like Monnickendam, Edam, Hoorn and Medemblik, one of the so-called "dead" cities on the Zuidersee. Only with the advent of horticulture and tourism around 1900, the community recovered from it. Today, the city benefits in the summer months, especially from the water tourism.The Drommedaris is the best-known building in the Dutch city of Enkhuizen.It served as a defense gate for a long time and protected the entrance of the harbor. The building dates back to 1540 and contained loopholes that guarded the harbor. The building was restored in the years 1914-1915, 1956-1968, 1963 to 1973. In 2012, a new restoration campaign began.

The Zuiderzee Museum is a wonderful open-air museum with many activities, especially during school holidays. For bad weather, there is still the associated museum building in the old stores of Enkhuizen. Our special tip: in the museum village, children can be dressed for free in Frisian costumes for one hour - including clogs.