In Hindeloopen, topics such as the Elfstedentocht, shipping and traditional painting meet the town’s location on the IJsselmeer. The town offers opportunities for water sports; museums and historic buildings tell the story of its cultural history. If you are considering Hindeloopen as a place to stay, you can think about whether exhibitions, architectural history, walks or activities on the water should shape your visit most.
Museums and the Elfstedentocht
The Friesian Ice Skating Museum has the world’s largest skating collection and presents the complete history of the Elfstedentocht. Both the sporting equipment and the history of the well-known skating event are therefore at the heart of the museum. The museum also offers Hindelooper painting workshops for children and adults. This brings skating history and a traditional craft together under one roof.
The Museum Hindeloopen is devoted, among other things, to Hindeloopen costume, painting and interiors. Its maritime exhibition depicts a year in the life of Hindeloopen’s merchant sea captains in the 18th century: this includes trading voyages to countries around the Baltic Sea and their return to the port of Amsterdam. The exhibition complements local art and everyday-life themes with the maritime history of the merchant sea captains.
Painting is also kept alive beyond the museum exhibitions: Roosje Oud Hindelooper Kunst anno 1894 has continued the tradition of Hindeloopen painting for four generations, using old techniques in its own painting studio. Those interested in the development of this painting tradition can view the museum’s presentation and this long-standing craft tradition as different perspectives on the same subject.
Buildings and town history
The Grote Kerk Hindeloopen was rebuilt around 1590; its church tower from that period was completed in 1593. The church is recognised as a Rijksmonument for its striking location, visual value, age, valuable elements of its interior and architecture. The locks of Hindeloopen date from the 17th century and connect the town centre and the harbour for recreational boats with the IJsselmeer.
Next to the church, at the bend in the sea dike, stands the Peilschaalhuisje Hindeloopen: a replica built in 2016 on the original foundations. The dike protects Hindeloopen from the water. The old KNRM lifeboat station from 1911, which is a national monument, is also located on the dike. Another place with its own visual identity is the 11Fountains fountain in Hindeloopen, whose design was inspired by the town’s coat of arms.
Town walk, dike path and cycling route
The Hindeloopen town walk starts at the Museum Hindeloopen and covers 2.5 kilometres through the town. It is available, among other places, at the Schaatsmuseum, the Museum Hindeloopen and the VVV webshop. The Museum Hindeloopen also offers a guided town walk that passes, among other places, the harbour, the Sylhús with its “leugenbank” and the Grote Kerk. The VVV visitor centre is also located in the museum; for orientation, there is a large floor map and a digital information tablet.
For a longer walk, an 11-kilometre route connects Stavoren and Hindeloopen along the IJsselmeer dike. Along the way, the route passes the Bocht van Molkwar nature reserve managed by Fryske Gea. If you walk from Stavoren to Hindeloopen, you can then take the Arriva train back to Stavoren. This clearly distinguishes the walk from the shorter loop through Hindeloopen: it includes both a second town and the dike path.
As an alternative to walking, the “From town to town: Hindeloopen – Workum – Stavoren” cycling route runs along the IJsselmeer coast through the three Frisian Elfstedentocht towns of Hindeloopen, Workum and Stavoren. For water sports, the Kitesurfing Spot at Hindeloopen is located behind the dike and has shallow water; kitesurfing is possible there year-round.
Getting there and finding your way around
Hindeloopen has a railway station on the Leeuwarden–Sneek–Stavoren line. From the station, it takes about 20 minutes to walk through the meadows to the town centre. If you plan to take the Arriva train back after your walk, check the timetable in advance. There is free parking with a parking disc on the edge of the historic town; the centre is just a few minutes’ walk from there. As local parking regulations may change, check them before you travel.
Discover more destinations: Ijlst, Heeg, Westhem, Warns, Cornwerd, Gaast, Lollum, Workum.
For the main travel overview: Súdwest Fryslân.
