Zoutkamp: Fishing history at the harbour

Fishing history, historic streets and waterways give a stay in Zoutkamp different points of focus. At the old inland harbour are the Visserijmuseum and a former harbour warehouse, while the streets reveal traces of the town’s history in its houses and buildings. Routes, meanwhile, follow dikes and waterways. If you are looking for a hotel in Zoutkamp, these themes can help you choose a destination that suits your interests.

Fishing history at the inland harbour

The Visserijmuseum Zoutkamp is located at the old inland harbour of the historic fishing town, in a former monumental buoy-marking shed belonging to Rijkswaterstaat. The museum has a Tourist Information Point, which provides information about cycling, walking and bike routes, as well as attractions in the surrounding area. The harbour location therefore combines a tangible insight into the town’s history with information to help you find your way around the area.

Siegerlida’s Hoeske is a faithfully reconstructed Zoutkamp fisherman’s house. Its furnishings date from around 1900 and show how people lived and worked in the past. Another glimpse of harbour life in earlier times: in the 19th century, 25 fishing boats and a ferry bound for Schiermonnikoog were based in Zoutkamp harbour. Today, the inland harbour serves as a marina. These details place different periods and uses side by side without confusing historic ferry services with today’s harbour activities.

Fortifications, lanes and distinctive houses

Spanish soldiers built the “Soltecampe” fortification in 1576. Its layout forms the basis of Zoutkamp’s present-day street plan. The Oude Kerk was built in 1836 on the fort’s northeastern bastion. Together, a specific year and two different structures represent distinct chapters in the town’s history.

The narrow streets and small houses of Vissersstraat and Kerkstraat still preserve the atmosphere of old Zoutkamp. The oldest little house in town stands at the corner of these two streets. Beereboomstraat is also part of the historic streetscape: it is the only lane in Zoutkamp that you can still walk through.

At the end of Reitdiepskade is the row of Kleurige huisjes Zoutkamp. A shrimp auction is held in the warehouses near the colourful houses. The Kalkoven is a replica of a lime kiln, where shells were once fired to make lime for building materials. Together, these places show different aspects of historic everyday life—from homes to the processing of shells.

Water landscapes and routes

Zoutkamp lies at the foot of Nationaal Park Lauwersmeer. The Lauwers, Reitdiep and Hunsingokanaal meet at Zoutkamperril. In the outer harbour, Kaap Garmt is a replica of the beacon on Engelsmanplaat; it offers a viewpoint overlooking Zoutkamperril and Lauwersmeer. The old outer dike runs along Reitdiepskade and continues towards the town.

The routes differ in how they relate to the town and the landscape. The Dorpswandeling Zoutkamp begins and ends at the Visserijmuseum. The Haven tot haven route follows old dikes and Lauwersmeer, and passes through the expansive natural landscape of Nationaal Park Lauwersmeer. It connects the fishing village of Zoutkamp with the harbour of Lauwersoog and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Wadden Sea. This makes it easy to identify the Dorpswandeling by its two endpoints in town, while the Haven tot haven route focuses on the landscape of water and dikes.

Boat trips and seasonal events

On the Beurtvaarten with the ZK4, the boat travels from Zoutkamp to Groningen on Saturdays from May to September, and from Groningen to Zoutkamp on Sundays. A taxi takes participants back to the starting point. If you are planning this seasonal trip during your stay, check the timetable in advance.

The Visserijmuseum regularly organises special trips on the historic fishing vessels ZK 4 Albatros and ZK 31 Neptunus. The trips travel along the Reitdiep, Lauwersmeer and the Wadden Sea. Every year at Pentecost, the entire fishing fleet returns to Zoutkamp to welcome the new shrimp queen. This annual event and the regularly organised trips offer different opportunities to visit, while the waterways mentioned provide a shared setting.

Discover more destinations: Leens, Molenrij, Westernieland, Mensingeweer, Warfhuizen, Vierhuizen, Lauwersoog, Hornhuizen

For the broader travel overview: De Marne.