Súdwest Fryslân between water and culture

Súdwest Fryslân brings together sparkling waters, expansive polders and swaying reed beds in a landscape that provides food and nesting sites for waterbirds and meadow birds. In spring, golden plovers, black-tailed godwits, lapwings and yellow wagtails spend time in the meadows. The Nationaal Landschap Zuidwest Fryslân was designated by the Dutch government in 2006. The landscape and its cultural history offer different focal points for planning your trip.

Landscape and routes

In Gaasterland, higher and lower-lying areas alternate with woods, pastures and water. Cultural and historical walking and cycling routes lead to monuments, historic buildings and other heritage sites. If you would like to plan a longer journey in stages, you can walk the 260-kilometre Odulphuspad pilgrimage route in sections of 15 to 20 kilometres; it passes through the natural areas of Waterland van Friesland.

At the Bezoekerscentrum Mar & Klif in Oudemirdum, learn about the history of Nationaal Landschap Zuidwest Fryslân and discover the distinctive features of its four landscape types. Walking and cycling routes into the surrounding area start at the visitor centre. Workum and Mirnser Klif are among the seven kitesurfing hotspots on the IJsselmeer. The wider Waterland van Friesland travel region has 841 kilometres of five-star-quality cycling junction routes.

When choosing where to stay, use your specific plans for the day as a guide: Sneek and Bolsward offer different ways to explore urban history and museums; routes into the surrounding area start in Oudemirdum, while the Odulphuspad can be walked in stages. This lets you focus your stay on cultural sites, the landscape or a particular walking stage.

Museums and Frisian culture

In Workum, Museum Warkums Erfskip tells the story of the town and its surroundings. It is housed in two historic locations: the authentic Waag and the former town hall. In Hindeloopen, Museum Hindeloopen has been housed in the former town hall since 1919. It presents the town’s maritime history and its trade on the Baltic Sea. Hindeloopen’s distinctive painting style also shapes its cultural identity: its patterns feature scrolls, flowers and leaves.

The Fries Scheepvaart Museum explores the history of shipping in Friesland, ice sports and the city of Sneek. It also offers a walking tour through Sneek’s history with a local guide. The Jopie Huisman Museum focuses on the stories and paintings of the Frisian artist Jopie Huisman; two new exhibitions are presented there each year.

Museum De Tiid is located in Bolsward’s monumental town hall and offers guided tours of the historic building. You can visit the tower platform only when accompanied by a guide. Check the current tour conditions before your visit. In IJlst, Museum and Workshop Houtstad IJlst, beside the historic De Geeuw waterway, explores the history of the timber industry, timber trade and shipbuilding. Activities and workshops for children and adults are held regularly, including woodworking, holiday activities, and music and storytelling evenings; if you are planning a specific workshop, check what is currently on offer.

At Modelspoor Museum Sneek, see accurately scaled railway lines, locomotives, cities and landscapes. Moving models and interactive displays complement the exhibition; visitors can operate the exhibits, play with them and experiment. A film featuring interviews with veterans about their experiences in May 1940 is shown continuously in the visitor centre of the Kazemattenmuseum.

Public art also brings together history and the character of the towns: seven of the eleven 11Fountains are located in the wider Waterland van Friesland travel region. International artists each designed a fountain for one of the eleven Frisian cities, reflecting the history and character of that city.

Events and sailing traditions

The Fietselfstedentocht is a 235-kilometre cycling tour along the eleven Frisian cities. It has been held since 1912 and starts and finishes in Bolsward. Dates and registration requirements may vary; check the latest information when planning your tour. The annual Sneekweek combines sailing competitions with music stages, a funfair and other festivities in Sneek. The Visserijdagen take place in Makkum every two years and are open to everyone. Dates and programmes for both events change, so it is worth checking the latest announcements.

The SKS and IFKS hold Skûtsjesilen competitions in southwest Friesland every year. You can watch the races from the shore or from the water during organised boat trips. Another maritime event is the Strontrace: it starts in the harbour of Workum and sails to Warmond and back. Together with the museums and cultural and historical routes, these activities showcase different sides of the region—from urban history and crafts to cycling, walking and sailing traditions.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Arum, Cornwerd, Gaast, Heeg, Hindeloopen, Koudum, Makkum, Molkwerum, Offingawier, Pingjum, Stavoren, Warns, Workum, Sneek, Kimswerd, Woudsend, Lollum, Uitwellingerga, Ijlst, Wons, Parrega, Bolsward, Westhem, Laaxum, Ysbrechtum

For the overview of the wider travel region: Friesland.