Friesland and Groningen
Visit the 11 cities of the most northern part of the Netherlands.
Tidal flat walking, terpen and wierden (artificial hillocks), Unesco World Heritage (Woudagemaal, Planetarium, the WaddenSea).
Friesland and Groningen
Places of interest
The 11 cities
Leeuwarden, Sneek, IJlst, Sloten, Stavoren, Hindeloopen, Workum, Bolsward, Harlingen, Franeker en Dokkum.
These cities are the setting for the legendary 200-kilometer ice skating race.
Because they are crossed by canals, they are also among the most beautiful places to visit.
Leeuwarden
Leeuwarden, the capital of the Dutch province Friesland, was European Capital of Culture in 2018.
The famous artist M.C. Escher and the exotic dancer Mata Hari were born here.
At the Fries Museum you will discover everything about the eleven cities, the countryside and the love-hate relationship with water.
The city palace of Maria Louise of Hesse-Kassel hosts the National Ceramics Museum where you will find rare Imperial porcelain from China and beautiful Art Nouveau ceramics alongside iconic Delft Blue.
Groningen
Groningen almshouses used to provide free accommodation to the poor, to widows and to the sick.
Enjoy the interesting collection and the temporary exhibitions at the Groninger Museum.
The Forum, a new building in the heart of the citycentre, became a meeting place for everyone.
Eise Eisinga Planetarium (Franeker)
The Eise Eisinga Planetarium in Franeker (Friesland) was finished in 1781, after 7 years of calculation.
On a Berlin blue wooden ceiling in the living room, an 18th century miniature solar system can be admired that to this day still almost perfectly reflects the position of the planets on a scale of 1 in a trillion. On the wall are the exact dates and times of sunrise and sunset, in addition to solar and lunar eclipses.
The world's oldest planetarium still in use on site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in September 2023.
Ir. D.F. Woudagemaal (Lemmer)
The largest functioning steam pumping station in the world dates from 1920 and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1998. This monumental steam giant is still used at high water levels to ensure dry feet in Friesland.
'terpen' and 'wierden'
The raised villages with their beautiful churches, historic residences and farms are called ‘terpen’ in Friesland and ‘wierden’ in Groningen.
They represented a safe haven when the surrounding lower land was flooded.
Alde Feanen National Park
Time to discover the stars in this beautiful fenland during a boat tour in the darkness of the night.
The five perls in the north of the Netherlands.
They are all worth a visit, because Schiermonnikoog, Ameland, Terschelling, Vlieland and Texel differ quite a bit from one another.
Home to the country's capital Amsterdam.
But also home to typical Dutch villages such as Alkmaar, the former island Marken, the historical village Monnickendam, Edam and its world famous cheese.
With its picturesque canal network, overwhelming museums, rich naval history and vibrant cultural scene, the capital of the Netherlands is one of the world’s most unique city destinations.