Car and motorcycle route city trip
Discover the historic 7 cities in the Waterland region of Friesland (Southwest Friesland) by motorcycle or car. The starting point is Sloten, but you are free to begin the route in any town.
City Tour by Car or Motorcycle in Waterland of Friesland
Seven charming towns await you, each connected by water. Park your car or motorcycle in designated parking areas, as driving in the city center is not allowed in all towns. Explore each town on foot to experience its unique character. Various museums tell their story. In addition, each town features a fountain created by international artists for the ‘11 fountains’ project.
- Sloten: the picturesque town. The smallest of all 11 towns in Friesland. Stroll through the cozy streets and unwind.
- Stavoren: greet the 'Lady of Stavoren' who overlooks the harbor and Lake IJsselmeer and enjoy a delicious fish dish.
- Hindeloopen: …
Discover the historic 7 cities in the Waterland region of Friesland (Southwest Friesland) by motorcycle or car. The starting point is Sloten, but you are free to begin the route in any town.
City Tour by Car or Motorcycle in Waterland of Friesland
Seven charming towns await you, each connected by water. Park your car or motorcycle in designated parking areas, as driving in the city center is not allowed in all towns. Explore each town on foot to experience its unique character. Various museums tell their story. In addition, each town features a fountain created by international artists for the ‘11 fountains’ project.
- Sloten: the picturesque town. The smallest of all 11 towns in Friesland. Stroll through the cozy streets and unwind.
- Stavoren: greet the 'Lady of Stavoren' who overlooks the harbor and Lake IJsselmeer and enjoy a delicious fish dish.
- Hindeloopen: travel back in time and discover the painting traditions and stylish traditional clothing of the past.
- Workum: an important trading town of old due to its location. Admire the beautifully preserved facades along the Noard.
- Bolsward: a city where history and architecture play a major role. Notable figures for Bolsward include Titus Brandsma and Gysbert Japicx.
- IJlst: also known as the wood city. For years, skates, children’s toys, and tools were made here. The sawmill is still operational.
- Sneek: the water sports capital of the Netherlands. Discover, among other things, the history of shipping.
This route is part of the city trip storyline.
Scenic Routes
This route is perfect for those who want to avoid major roads and discover the 'real' Friesland. You will explore the beautiful Waterland of Friesland and its towns via small country roads.
Always be mindful of cyclists and pedestrians. From Rijs to Stavoren, you’ll drive along a narrow sea dike on the IJsselmeer coast. An alternative route is from Rijs, via Hemelum and Warns, to Stavoren. You will also drive over winding, narrow roads between Bolsward and IJlst.
National Landscape Southwest Fryslân
This route takes you through four different types of landscapes, collectively forming the National Landscape Southwest Fryslân. Be sure to take breaks along the way to enjoy the views.
From Sloten, you will immediately enter the hilly, wooded area of Gaasterland. Next, between Rijs and Hindeloopen, you will follow the IJsselmeer coast, where you can spot many kite surfers. Then, you will pass through the clay area between Bolsward and Sneek. Finally, you will discover the peatland with the Frisian Lakes.
Multi-Day Car or Motorcycle Route
This route is suitable for a multi-day trip, allowing you to fully enjoy each town. Check here for accommodation options in the region.
Sights on this route
Starting point
Haverkamp 9
8556 AC Sloten
Navigate to starting point
Sloten (Sleat)
Sloten (or Sleat as we say in Friesland) is the smallest Elfsteden town in Friesland. This walled mini-city is also called sipelstêd (Frisian for onion city) thanks to the unique shape of an onion.
11Fountains Sloten
The ‘Peewit’ shows a girl standing on the shoulders of a man. She holds a bird in her hand. Under the man’s feet a disheveled pile of buckets, jerry cans and barrels form the base of the fountain.
Museum Sloten
In the middle of Sloten – a truly enchanting museum: experience the rich history of the city and the magical world of magic lanterns.
De Kaai corn mill
Near the Lemster Gate you will also find De Kaai corn mill. The windmill stands on a bastion of the city walls, where it still grinds wheat into flour in the traditional and authentic manner. On Saturdays, the mill is open for viewing and flour sales.
The Lemster Gate of Sloten
If you sail into Sloten from Lemmer, the wonderful scene that greets you is the windmill together with the Lemster Gate, a vista often captured in photographs. There’s a pillory at the foot of the Lemster Gate.
Washing lines of Sloten
Sloten likes to pay homage to its 'bleaches'. This 'Bleekweide' was a grassy commons area on which freshly washed linen was left to dry and bleach in the sun. Sloten likes to remember this bleaching system along its city moat.
Oudemirdum - De Betonpleats - Seedykkiekje uitkijkplatform
Polder met uitzicht op het IJsselmeerBezoektijdGehele jaar.RoutebeschrijvingLiemerige Wei 6, 8567 HM OudemirdumCopyrightDeze informatie is afkom...
Oudemirdum - De Betonpleats - Seedykkiekje uitkijkplatform
Oudemirdum - De Betonpleats - Seedykkiekje uitkijkplatform
Liemerige Wei
8567 HM Oudemirdum
De Hege Grezen near Oudemirdum
For a small entrance fee you can enjoy a day at this unique location on the IJsselmeer. You can swim here and there are changing rooms and toilets. There is also a playground, a football and volleyball field, a paddling pool and a mini-golf course.
Oudemirdumerklif - Uitkijkheuvel
Zicht op het IJsselmeer met 's winters veel eenden.
Mokkebank - De Mok - Vogelkijkhut
Duizenden futen.
Harbor of Laaksum
The harbor of Laaksum is an idyllic spot in Southwest Friesland. We often refer to it as the smallest fishing harbor in Europe.
Rode Klif (Red Cliff) at Lake IJsselmeer
At the edge of Lake IJsselmeer there is a red cliff that is 10 metres high. It was formed during the last ice age but one when the land was pushed up by glaciers that advanced from Scandinavia. The forces exerted by the ice created hills in the landscape.
Rode Klif (Red Cliff) at Lake IJsselmeer
Rode Klif (Red Cliff) at Lake IJsselmeer
Skarl
8721 EX Warns
Stavoren (Starum)
Stavoren (or Starum as we say in Friesland) is very much the main city of the IJsselmeer, being enclosed by the lake on three sides. It is also the oldest city of Friesland, founded around 300 BC at a waterway, and gaining city rights in the 11th century.
Museum 't Ponthús
Here the time line of the famous Stavoren stories is brought to life. Why was Stavoren a target for the Vikings? And how about the trading relationship with Hamburg? Or read more about the story of the emergency landing of the Halifax V during the Second
The Lady of Stavoren
From the 15th century on, the flourishing Hanseatic city of Stavoren began to fall upon bad times. It is this period in history that is related in the saga of the Lady of Stavoren. In the saga, all aspects of Stavoren as a trading city are covered.
11Fountains Stavoren
The sea gives, the sea takes. Stavoren, once a rich Hanseatic city, has much to say on this subject. Floods, maritime trade wars, a port that silted up: the city fell into poverty several times.
Museum 'Het Bakkerswinkeltje'
Ontdek in Museum 'Het Bakkerswinkeltje' de rijke historie van het vroegere Friese Doolhof Molkwerum.
Molkwerum - Bocht van Molkwerum - Vogelkijkhut Swan
Veel vogels te zien, aan het IJsselmeer.
Molkwerum - Bocht van Molkwerum - Vogelkijkhut Swan
Molkwerum - Bocht van Molkwerum - Vogelkijkhut Swan
Noorderdyk
Hindeloopen
Hindeloopen (Hylpen)
Hindeloopen, or Hylpen as we say in Friesland, is known for its painting and stylish costumes from the past.
11Fountains Hindeloopen
The city coat of arms, with its tree of life, with the deer and the doe surrounding it, is the source of inspiration for the fountain in Hindeloopen.
Church of Hindeloopen
The Hindeloopen skyline is dominated by its church, called Grote Kerk, visible from many miles away. The old church of Hindeloopen was destroyed during the Eighty Years’ War, in 1570.
Friesian Ice Skating Museum
This museum is a must for all ice skating fans. You will find the world’s largest collection of ice skates here, and a complete history of the Elfstedentocht in a specially designed Elfsteden-room.
Museum Hindeloopen
Three centuries ago, Hindeloopen grew into a major trading city. The city had a large fleet of 100 ships that sailed across the ocean. Hindeloopen is still an attractive city to visit. Many old characteristic properties are preserved.
KNRM lifeboat station
A particularly photogenic building and location is the bright blue KNRM lifeboat station on the dike in Hindeloopen. The old lifeboat station dating from 1911 has become a national monument.
Locks and the Sylhús
Hindeloopen is full of national monuments, such as the locks and the adjoining Sylhús. The locks were built back in the 17th century, and are the connection for recreational boats between the city centre and the harbour and the IJsselmeer lake.
Workum (Warkum)
Workum (or Warkum as we say in Friesland), is one of the famous Frisian cities that has enjoyed city rights since 1399. Located on the shores of the former Zuiderzee and bordering the Frisian lakes.
Sluis Workum
De sluis vormt de verbinding tussen de Diepe Dolte in het centrum en het twee kilometer lange kanaal Het Zool dat uitkomt op het IJsselmeer.
Sint Gertrudis church
On ‘De Merk’, you'll find ’Workum Cathedral’, Sint Gertrudis church. This is the largest late-Gothic cruciform church of Friesland, with the largest windows in all the province.
Façade stone wall
The façade stone wall is an original initiative and beautiful historic feature of Workum. 22 old façade stones have been incorporated under the gateway alongside number 18 on De Merk market square.
Museum Warkums Erfskip
Museum Warkums Erfskip is housed in the old Waag building in the center and tells more about the history of Workum and its surroundings. It is the starting point to discover and admire the highlights of the beautiful city of Workum.
Museum Warkums Erfskip
Enjoy Workum from the weigh house!
11Fountains Workum
For centuries Workum’s city arms on ‘De Waag’ have been supported by two lions. They are naive and their theatrical pose prompts laughter.
Jopie Huisman Museum
The Jopie Huisman Museum is dedicated to the life and work of the Frisian self-taught master painter Jopie Huisman. His love of nature and his compassion are a recurrent theme.
Bolsward (Boalsert)
Bolsward, or Boalsert as we say in Friesland, is the city where history and architecture play a leading role. Let yourself be carried away by the rich history of this eleven cities city.
Bolwerk Bolsward
In de 16e eeuw was Bolsward voorzien van verdedigingswerken met grachten en wallen. Maar omdat vanuit de regering stedelijke verdedigingswerken werden afgeschaft, werden de wallen afgegraven. Het Hoog Bolwerk is bewaard gebleven.
Stadsgrachten Bolsward
Bolsward werd echt welvarend door de zuivelhandel in de 17e eeuw. Dit zie je goed terug in de huizen langs de stadsgrachten uit die tijd.
City Hall of Bolsward
The City Hall of Bolsward is one of the most beautiful gems of Friesland, although it's currently surrounded by scaffolding for renovation purposes. The richly decorated City Hall was built in the 1614-1617 period and designed by Jacob Gysbert.
Cultuur Historisch Centrum 'De Tiid'
Museum De Tiid, in the former historic town hall in Bolsward, shows the fascinating history of Southwest Fryslân. Take your time for the interactive presentations and feast your eyes in the photogenic council chamber, on the steps and in the city hall tow
Cultuur Historisch Centrum 'De Tiid'
Cultuur Historisch Centrum 'De Tiid'
Onderdeel van Cultuur Historisch Centrum De Tiid
Jongemastraat 2
8701 JD Bolsward
11Fountains Bolsward
Bats are intriguing, useful animals, crucial to the ecological system for their insect hunting. In Asian culture, the bat symbolises wealth, happiness and the blessings of old age.
Broerekerk (church)
The Broerekerk was built in the 13th century as a monastery church of the Friars Minor. The monastery was abandoned and demolished in 1580. The three-aisled church without a tower is a ruin as a result of a fire that took place on 8 May 1980.
IJlst (Drylts)
IJlst (or Drylts in Frisian) is not only one of the famous 11 cities, but also a 'wood city'. For many years, tree trunks were processed here by the legendary wood trading companies Oppedijk and S.O. de Vries.
Nooitgedagt chimney
The silhouette of IJlst would not be the same without the old factory chimney, on which the letters of the Nooitgedagt name can be read from top to bottom.
Waterside Gardens
Unique and characteristic to IJlst are the waterside gardens on each side of the Ee.
11Fountains Ijlst
Culture, like nature, consists of layer upon layer. New generations continue to build on a foundation which does not disappear.
Museum en Werkplaats Houtstad IJlst
Experience the history of IJlst during an active visit to: Museum and workshop Houtstad IJlst. IJlst has been connected with wood for many centuries.
Houtzaagmolen de Rat
Visit wind powered sawmill ‘De Rat’ and step back in time three hundred years!
Sneek (Snits)
Sneek, or Snits as we say in Friesland, is the water sports city of the Netherlands. But Sneek is more than water sports and the Sneekweek. The city is bustling with events, culture, unique hotspots, and nice shops.
Water Gate Sneek
The Waterpoort in Sneek is a water gate, a gate in a defensive wall that connects a city to a waterway. In the 15th and 16th century, a defensive wall had been built around Sneek.
11Fountains Sneek
A man with a Horn of Plenty stands on a golden ball in the middle of the water.
Frisian Maritime Museum
The Frisian Maritime Museum focuses on the history of Frisian shipping.
Frisian Maritime Museum
Frisian Maritime Museum
Fries Scheepvaart Museum Sneek
Kleinzand 16
8601 BH Sneek
The National Model Railway Museum
Discover the past and present of the track company at home and abroad. Plus, fine examples model construction, playgrounds for children and a lot more. Enjoy Europe's largest collection of model trains in bustling Sneek.
Belltower Ypecolsga
Ypecolsga is a hamlet near Woudsend. The double bellcote in Ypecolsga was completely replaced in 1956. Beneath the peculiar hipped roof hang 2 bells dating back to 1664.