Hoorn

Hoorn is an iconic Dutch town. In the 16th and 17th centuries the town was an important home base for the Dutch East India Company (VOC), traces of which are still visible today. In addition to the many listed buildings and protected cityscape, Hoorn also has an exciting nightlife and hip marinas. It's also a great place to eat and walk.

The establishment of Hoorn is shrouded in legends and mystery but the earliest archaeological traces of the town date back to ca. 1200. After Hoorn was granted town privileges in the 14th century it quickly became the most important harbour in the South Sea.

The Westfries Museum, which is in a historic building, has 27 rooms with art and utensils, paintings and VOC memorabilia that will tell you more about the history of this region between 1500 and 1800. The museum exits on to Roode Steen, the historic square with the famous statue of VOC employee Jan Pieterszoon Coen. The square is also home to another one of Hoorn's highlights: the Waag (weigh house). Cheese is weighed in this beautiful 17th-century building during the traditional Thursday cheese market just as it was in the 17th century.

The Museum van de Twintigste Eeuw is home to interior furnishings and objects from 1900-1980. For older people, the museum will be a trip down memory lane. For younger people, it will probably be a real riot!

Hoorn is a lovely town for shopping and walking. Sip a drink in the sun at the harbour or explore the main shopping streets and quaint alleyways. Summer is culture time in Hoorn: during the three-day Hoornse Stadsfeesten you can enjoy loads of free music, dance and art performances.

There are a lot of hotels in and around Hoorn ranging from historic buildings in the city centre to rural B&Bs.

Seafaring, cheese, a treasure trove of history and activities for everyone: come to Hoorn and experience the Netherlands at its best.