Volendam and Marken

Former Zuiderzee Fishing Villages: Volendam'S Harbour And Costume Photo Studios, And Marken'S Green Wooden Houses On A One Time Island · Volendam, North Holland

Volendam and Marken are two former Zuiderzee fishing villages on the water north-east of Amsterdam, facing each other across a small bay and linked by a seasonal boat. They became famous for their traditional costumes, wooden houses and harbours, and when the Afsluitdijk turned the sea into a lake in 1932 and fishing collapsed, tourism took over. Volendam, the larger and livelier, has a harbour dike lined with souvenir shops, fish stalls and costume photo studios where visitors dress in local dress for a picture; it is the place to try smoked eel and kibbeling. Marken, an island until a dike joined it to the mainland in 1957, is quieter and more striking: green and black wooden houses on mounds and stilts, a small museum and a walk out to the lighthouse known as Het Paard. People come on a half-day trip from Amsterdam, often with Edam and the Zaanse Schans. The honest caveat: Volendam's dike is very touristy and packed by midday with coach groups, and Marken is a village where people live, not an open-air museum. Go early or late, and cycle Waterland to see the real countryside.

Volendam harbour dike (Dijk), with the Marken Express ferry across the Gouwzee to Marken, Edam-Volendam and Waterland, Volendam, North Holland, Netherlands

Both villages are open all year and free to walk. Shops and fish stalls on Volendam's dike open daily, mostly from mid morning to early evening, with shorter hours in winter. The Volendam Museum and the Marken Museum open roughly spring to autumn, with the Marken Museum closed in winter - confirm. The Marken Express boat runs roughly March to October, often every 30-45 minutes - confirm dates. EBS buses run from Amsterdam Centraal (the IJ-side bus station) to Volendam and to Marken in about 30-40 minutes. Car parks are at the edge of both villages; cars are not allowed into Marken's centre. Nothing needs booking except tours.

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