Smalltown Harbours

Up for a day of authentic Dutch folklore? Then visit the Old Dutch fishing villages on the IJsselmeer. The authentic character of each town has been preserved, including their lively harbours, which now have full terraces, cosy eateries and Dutch herring carts. In the summer, the old cheese market in Edam is revived, complete with cheese carriers, inspectors, farmers and cheese girls in traditional costume. Or take a look inside the Edam Museum, the interior of which has been furnished according to the ‘latest’ in 17th-century fashion. Volendam is so beautiful that in the 19th century it became a meeting place for artists from all over Europe. The proof of this can be seen in the Volendam Museum and Hotel Spaander. The peninsula of Marken is well-known for its wooden houses on stilts and its isolated ‘island character’. With a bit of luck you’ll bump into a resident wearing clogs and traditional costume. Amble through Monnickendam’s cute little streets and past the beautiful harbour and sample an age-old delicacy, the smoked IJsselmeer eel.

Tip: take a boat from one place to the next. It’s a wonderful sight to see the wooden fishermen’s houses standing on the water line.