While life in Amsterdam and other big cities is great, we all need a break from time to time. Fortunately, having a quick day trip in the Netherlands is totally possible! I know, I know, the NS has its faults without a doubt, but it can still take us pretty much anywhere — including the beautiful city of Hoorn.
When looking for day trips from Amsterdam, I always run into the usual suspects: Zaanse Schaans, Delft, Keukenhof, Volendam, or Haarlem. Of course, everyone else reads the same suggestions, making these places fairly busy.
Hoorn is rarely mentioned, as most people looking for a harbour city end up in Volendam. I decided to give this lesser-known city a try and discovered much more than expected.
Here’s a one-day itinerary if you decide to visit Hoorn, which I can only highly recommend!
History in Hoorn: the Westfries Museum
After arriving at the train station, take a short walk through the pretty main streets Veemarkt and Nieuwe Noord until you reach the Westfries Museum. Their permanent exhibition focuses on the Dutch Golden Age. You can see how people in this era lived and how they thought.
A special focus is put on the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and a very helpful audio guide is included in the price. Westfries also has a special VR room that takes you around Batavia’s streets (now Jakarta). Make sure to look up the admission times for this!
The museum is laid out in more than one building, thus some spaces are narrow and there are a lot of stairs. Unfortunately, Westfries is not accessible to wheelchair users.
Ah, one more thing about the museum — look at that gorgeous façade!
The Red Square in Hoorn: a perfect break
Step out of the Westfries Museum and right onto the Red Square (Roode Steen)! If you need a minute to let all that history sink in, stop here to grab a drink or a bite.
The square is lively and full of cafes, restaurants, and bars — the perfect spot for people watching and just enjoying the day passing by. During winter, there’s a small ice-skating rink there too!
Historically though, the square wasn’t all drinks and fun. The name comes from a darker chapter of Hoorn’s history.
This is where people convicted by the city court would be punished — an activity that often involves cutting limbs or other terrifying methods. Now, there’s a red brick replica in the square, but part of the real deal is still in the Westfries Museum.
The Hoofdtoren in Hoorn: picture perfect
On your way down to the harbour, it’s impossible to miss the Hoofdtoren. This impressive building looks like it’s cut in half, making it a unique sight. Back in the day, it was used for defence purposes, but now it’s a restaurant and a must-stop for taking gorgeous pictures of the city.
More history! The Museum of the 20th-century in Hoorn
Continuing through the city, you’ll reach the Museum of the 20th Century. This one is much lighter and easier to take in than the Westfries Museums’ display of the Dutch colonial past. All in all, a fun way to spend one or two hours and is fit for all ages! Prepare to go down memory lane and learn a thing or two along the way.
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From the 1900s to the ’90s, each room is designed with original objects from that time. The museum is also situated in a former prison, which only adds to its charm!
The (free) audio guide gives you a brief introduction to how people in the Netherlands lived throughout those times. As a Romanian, I’ve learnt that the Dutch lived in the ’70s like Romanians did in the ’90s — not sure whether to laugh or cry.
Next stop: the harbour in Hoorn
Walk another three minutes and it will feel like you reached the end of the world right there — all water and serenity. Throughout the whole walk (along the Hoofdtoren to here) you can observe stunning boats.
Hoorn’s last gate: The East Gate
The East Gate (Oosterport) is the last remaining gate in Hoorn, dating back to 1578. You can scan a QR on the gate itself to learn about its history. It’s an impressive construction, but what I loved most is the house on top — and yes, someone actually lives up there!
On your way here, if you walk on Slapershaven, look for the Bosshuizen. These three adjacent houses are special as they resemble a comic strip, telling the story of the battle on the Zuiderzee between West Frisians and the Spanish Fleet.
The Oosterkerk in Hoorn
On your way back to the centre, take Groote Oost Street. It’s beautiful, full of history, and lined with protected historical buildings!
Right in the middle, you’ll pass the Oosterkerk, which you can recognize by the clock hanging “out” of the building. This also has a QR code which you can scan to find out more information like the time it completely fell apart due to bad construction.
Time for dinner and drinks in Hoorn!
Okay, it’s been a long day — you’ve walked, learnt, and taken that perfect picture with the windy-hair-but-not-in-your-face-next-to-the-water. It’s probably time to call it a day and have dinner…and drinks, of course.
Based on a short search, I’ve ended up at De Beiaard, as they have a nice collection of craft beers that were calling my name. The café is full of road signs, posters, and all things old and new, with a lovely vibe.
Four craft beers, beer bread, dips, and a burger later, I headed to the train station more rolling than walking.
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However, there’s another spot that truly deserves a mention here, and that’s Restaurant & Café Ridderikhoff. With a reputation for good food and location (beautiful building), the staff here consist of more than 25 people who have disabilities and have had a hard time finding a job. Make sure to reserve a spot, it’s often busy.
And that’s your day in Hoorn!
Well, there you have it! Despite Hoorn not being as famous as it should be, there are plenty of things to do! From hard-to-digest history, to craft beers in lovely pubs, or wine on terraces next to the harbour. I hope you give it a go and fall in love with it as much as I did. Don’t tell ALL your friends though — the silence and quaint feeling are pretty cool.
Have you ever been to Hoorn? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in January 2020, and was fully updated in April 2023 for your reading pleasure.
I worked in Enkhuizen a few years ago. One evening I drove down to Hoorn, and on the outskirts I saw multi-storey flats and not nice neighbourhoods so I went back to Enkhuizen, at my hotel by yhe Kooport
I visited Hoorn in 2019 to travel on the Stoomtram Hoorn-Medemblick and on the steamer to Enkhuisen. I had the week end there so was able to see some of the town and loved it, like a lot of small Dutch town.