Marken, Netherlands: A Day's Journey into Dutch Culture, Charm, and Coastal Serenity
- Amy
- Aug 25, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: May 12, 2024
The Sunday looked pretty incredible from my bedroom window. Instantly I felt the rush of adrenaline in my bones to get up and get out in the sunny exteriors of my beautiful country Netherlands. Exploring the enchanting countryside was made even more special with my parents in town, on a truly beautiful day. I'm perpetually enthusiastic and in high spirits when it comes to showing guests, family and friends around; you could almost call it my second profession!
Anyway, without digressing further, we decided to quickly shower, get dressed and leave the coziness of our home to the much awaited former fishing island of Marken, situated in the province of North Holland. Marken is a ‘leuk dorp’ (pretty village) characterized by straight roads in the countryside, traditional Dutch houses plastered all over the village, the North Sea extending beyond the horizon, and fishing boats lining the sea water.
It is such a cute, quaint village, and was formerly an island. However, with the construction of the dike connecting Marken to the mainland in 1957, it lost its status as an island. As the name rightly suggests, it is located in the municipality of Waterland with a population of approximately 2000 people. It is renowned for its meticulously maintained Dutch architectural heritage, lively fishing legacy, and scenic location along the waterfront. A ferry ride across and you land in Volendam, another picturesque fishing village. A day's journey into the Dutch culture, charm, and coastal serenity of Marken in Netherlands is a must!
How to reach Marken:
By car: A one hour drive from The Hague and 30 minutes from Amsterdam central. The parking lot in Marken has limited spaces and its charges are Euros 3.5/hour.
Bus and Ferry ride: The nearest major city is Amsterdam. From Amsterdam you can take the Bus 315 from Amsterdam Central Station to the town of Volendam and from there you have the Marken express ferry ride to Marken. The ferry ride offers scenic views of the Markermeer Lake.
The Journey...
We drove along a straight scenic road with the sea stretching beyond the horizon on either side of the road until we reached a placard that mentioned ‘Welkom in Marken’. The road ended with a turn to a centrum parking lot, opposite to an express Albert Heijn supermarket. There was also an information center with operational toilets by the parking lot. We parked our car and headed to the nearest entrance to Marken ‘Beatrix Brug ‘. Cross this and you’re in a neighborhood surrounded by traditional Dutch houses with green falls and brown roofs, manicured lawns, lush hydrangeas, and petite canals. Adjacent to this bridge, there's a museum featuring a wooden shoe workshop where you can observe the traditional Dutch wooden shoe (klompen) craftsmanship. Having already experienced this at Zaanse-Schaans, we decided to explore further. You walk further in and at the next turn, you will be welcomed by a souvenir shop selling Marken artifacts and handmade crafts.
Kids were famished and fortunately for them they embarked on a poffertjes (small bite-sized pancakes) stall selling delicious poffertjes in various toppings like chocolate, strawberry and normal sugar. After we calmed down the kids, it was our turn to relish some local seafood. So off we went to the main harbor. The restaurant Havenzicht Marken caught our eye as it offered a picturesque view of the sea. After bagging a sun-kissed table outdoors, we ordered 2 plates of lekkerbek and frites , a plate of kibbeling and a kaas sandwich for my pure vegetarian momma. The fish was fresh and crisply fried and the tartar sauce complemented it just fine.
In the past, Marken was a fishing village, and its residents made a living by catching fish from the nearby sea. After the significant floods that affected Marken occurred in 1916, known as the Zuiderzee Flood, the Dutch government initiated a large-scale project called the Zuiderzee Works, which aimed to reclaim land from the sea and create a barrier against flooding. As part of this project, a dike was constructed to connect Marken to the mainland, providing better protection against floods. The dike also facilitated easier transportation and communication with the outside world. The people of Marken, along with other affected communities, had to adapt to the changes brought about by the flood and the subsequent construction of the dike. It led to increase in opportunities for locals of this village to interact with the world outside, to find more jobs, to educate themselves and to help outsiders know Marken as a thriving community. While some residents still engage in fishing as an occupation, tourism has become a more noteworthy source of income for the community. Marken now relies on tourism, traditional crafts, and other industries to sustain its economy.
First we navigated through the beautiful harbor lined with boats and restaurants along side it. Few pretty shops selling souvenirs, traditional Dutch cutlery and crockery planted themselves in between these restaurants. With so many boating companies in the vicinity, maybe you could consider a short boat tour to explore the surrounding waters and take in coastal views. We observed a splendid vintage wooden sailboat that appeared to be offering tours to tourists in the sunny weather. The Volendam Marken Express cruise was prepared to depart for Volendam, prompting the captain to invite as many passengers as possible to fill the seats. If time allows, visit this lighthouse, which offers panoramic views of the area.
After a stroll around the harbor, it was time to take a stroll around the little village. You can also rent a bike to bike along the dykes and paths to enjoy the island's natural beauty, however since we were with oma and opa (grandmother and grandfather), we decided to explore the village on foot. We took the route towards the Grote Kerk (cathedral) and Marken Museum, which nestled themselves in between the Dutch houses painted in green on a narrow street. We explored the village's historic houses. These houses are built close together, some of them even joint together to make for more space within their interiors.
We visited the local museum to learn about its history. It was here at the museum that we learnt about the history of these colourful wooden houses. In the past, as Marken was situated in a marshy area, the village was built on wooden stilts to protect it from flooding. The Zuiderzee flood that occurred in 1916 was a devastating one and was caused by a combination of heavy storms and high tides. The water levels rose rapidly, causing widespread flooding in Marken. Many houses were destroyed, and the residents had to evacuate to safer areas. The community and authorities worked to rebuild and reinforce the structures to make them more resilient to future flooding. The houses that were built on wooden stilts or piles are still seen in Marken and are an enduring symbol of Marken's resilience against the forces of nature.
The Marken museum, also called 'Marker museum' also housed mannequins dressed up in traditional Dutch costumes called "Marken klederdracht". These were worn on special occasions and festivals. There were also displays of traditional clothing and crockery that were worn and used on a routinely basis, artefacts depicting the fishing heritage and handicrafts created by local artists. I had the MuseumKaart (museum cards in Netherlands) for the entire family, so we received a gratis entry (free entry). Otherwise you can purchase your tickets at the counter.
Address: Kerkbuurt 44-47, 1156 BL Marken
Ticket prices: Adults € 3.00, Children up to 12 years € 1.50
We returned from the museum to the car parking, taking the route via the Wilhelmina Brug and soaked in more of the beauty captured in plentiful photographs on our way. Marken is a small but charming village, and a day trip allows you to experience its unique culture, heritage, and natural beauty. Despite the changes over time, the village has managed to preserve its unique charm and character, making it a fascinating place to visit and learn about its history. So, when in Netherlands, you know what to see :)
The Volendam Marken Express
Aboard the Marken express, head to the top deck to savor stunning panoramic views of the Markermeer Lake and the surrounding Dutch countryside. This ferry takes you on an enjoyable journey, cruising the Gouwzee between these two charming fishing towns of Holland.
The first cruise sets sail from Volendam at 10:30 AM and the last cruise is at 7:00 PM from Marken. The boat departs every 45 minutes. For a 30 minutes ride, it will cost you €10.00. For children between 4 to 11 years of age, they pay a special child rate. Children below 3 years of age sail for free.
For more information and to book your tickets, visit the official website:
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