Heerenveen: History, Museum and Leisure

Heerenveen brings together a range of themes for a stay: the city's origins, museums, art and monuments, relaxation at Heidemeer, as well as boat trips and ice sports. If you are looking for a hotel in Heerenveen, the focus of your trip can help you get started with planning. First consider whether you are particularly interested in history, culture or leisure.

City History and Waterways

Heerenveen's origins are linked to the founding charter of the Schoterlandse Veencompagnie, signed by Van Dekema, Van Cuyck and Foeyts in 1551. This gives the city's history a specific date and anchors it in a named document. The Schoterlandse Compagnonsvaart and the Heerensloot also tell the story of local development: both waterways were created to transport the peat that had been extracted. The waterways thus add a practical aspect of peat extraction and transport to the story of the city's founding.

Museum, Monument and Art

Museum Heerenveen is a dual museum about the origins of Heerenveen. It displays archaeological finds and 19th-century paintings; specific exhibitions may change. The finds and paintings represent different collection areas, while the story of the city's origins provides the museum's thematic framework. The museum is within walking distance of Heerenveen railway station. If your journey begins there, you can plan your museum visit from this point of reference.

Another historical point of reference is the Heerenveense School, a municipal monument in the centre of Heerenveen. Alongside the museum, this centrally located monument offers a distinct point of connection with the city's history. The restored ceiling painting can be viewed at Oenemastate. Mathias van Pelckum created it in 1663. Here, the focus is on a single, dated work of art; the museum, by contrast, offers several collection themes and explores the city's origins.

Leisure at Heidemeer, on the Turfroute and at Thialf

The De Heide recreation area lies on the outskirts of Heerenveen. Heidemeer has a beach where you can swim and sunbathe. If you plan to enjoy these activities during your visit, it is worth checking the local conditions, as they may change. The Turfroute offers a different focus: boat trips pass through wooded natural areas, meadows and villages. Leisure options therefore also differ in form: Heidemeer centres on the beach, swimming and sunbathing, while the Turfroute focuses on boat trips through a variety of landscapes.

Thialf adds ice sports to the options. The ice sports venue is located in Heerenveen and is considered a centre of Dutch ice sports. This gives you a choice of different interests: a recreation area by the water, a boat-trip route and an ice sports venue. When looking for a hotel, you can first consider which theme you want to shape your stay: city history, art, outdoor activities or ice sports. Then you can look for a hotel in Heerenveen that suits your travel plans.

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