IJsselmeer in Friesland
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boartersplak
Welcome to the beach of Waterland. The Frisian IJsselmeer shoreline stretches all the way from Makkum to Lemmer. This is not just a beach for a breezy walk or sunbathing, as it also features old Hanseatic cities, water sports villages, beach clubs to celebrate the good life, and very unique countryside. Spectacular coastlines with three small cliffs and nature areas such as the 'Bocht van Molkwar' and the 'Warkumerwaard' attract the most beautiful birds. Feel like getting active? Why not try kitesurfing, for example, at one of the 7 kitesurf hotspots. A playground, or boarterplak as we say in Friesland, for sporty people!
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water sports
water sports
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makkum
makkum
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the afsluitdijk
the afsluitdijk
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stay overnight
stay overnight
kitesurfing
Kitesurfing is a combination of kite flying and surfing. Want to get the hang of it? Then Southwest Friesland is the perfect place, as the water here is shallow in many places. With no less than seven kitesurfing hotspots in Lemmer, Mirns, Stavoren, Hindeloopen, Workum, Makkum and Kornwerderzand, Waterland van Friesland is the place to be. Moreover, wind conditions are often better for kitesurfing here than in the rest of the Netherlands. Kiting is an exciting sport to do, but also fun to watch from the beach. All those airborne and coloured kiters – it’s just great to see.
Discover kite surfing
swimming beaches
'De Holle Poarte' is a popular fun and family beach near Makkum. There are playgrounds, a volleyball net and the water is nice and shallow. This means the little ones can play in the water carefree. After an afternoon on the beach you can stroll along the shops on the boulevard, right behind the beach.
All beaches
The bend at Molkwar
From the birdwatching shelter called De Swan near the village of Molkwerum in 'The bend of Molkwar', you can clearly see the influence of the wind. Is there a westerly wind? It will push up water levels to flood the sandbanks, reducing the size of the islands and limiting the space for birds. As soon as the wind turns to the east, water levels subside and the silt and sand banks reappear. Around April, as many as 15,000 ruffs sometimes arrive here to spend the night in the 'Bocht fan Molkwar'!
Visit the Bend of Molkwar
The smallest harbour in Europe
A handful of fishermen's cottages, a small harbour and behind it the deep green water of the former Zuiderzee. Laaksum is sometimes referred to as the smallest fishing village of Europe, but with great beauty. Once the Afsluitdijk had been constructed, that was more or less the end of the fishing trade in Laaksum. Nowadays, its sheer beauty and location on the shores of the IJsselmeer lake make it worth a visit.
Read a poem about Laaksum
“ ONE OF THE BEST SPOTS FOR NOVICE KITESURFERS IS IN WORKUM. THE WATER IS SHALLOW AND THE CONDITIONS IDEAL. ”
Lisette of Travellust.nl
