Hoorn, Netherlands

Hoorn

A Golden Age harbour town with a round defence tower on the water.

  • All year
  • 1 night
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Things to do

2 days in Hoorn

Day 1

  1. MorningWalk along the old harbour to the round Hoofdtoren tower on the water.
  2. AfternoonVisit the Westfries Museum on the Roode Steen square, a Golden Age building full of paintings.
  3. EveningHave dinner on a harbour terrace as the boats come in.

Day 2

Ride the old steam train from Hoorn to Medemblik and sail back by boat.

What to eat

Smoked eel and a glass of jenever, Dutch gin.

Local tips

Make the most of Hoorn

Beat the crowds

Calm most of the year. Summer weekends are livelier along the harbour.

Best photo spot

The round Hoofdtoren tower at the harbour, and the gabled houses along the quay.

Getting there

Trains from Amsterdam take about 35 minutes.

Don't miss nearby

Enkhuizen, Edam and Medemblik.

Good to know

A historic steam train runs from Hoorn to Medemblik in season, with a boat on to Enkhuizen. Hoorn's sailors named Cape Horn after their town.

Secret spots

3 secret spots near Hoorn

Our most hidden places around Hoorn: fewer people, same wow. Unlock them with a route in Google Maps and a PDF guide of Hoorn to take with you.

17 km away
39 km away
58 km away
Unlock the secret spots · €2.99+ VAT · one payment, valid for a year

Plan your visit

Getting to Hoorn

Getting there

  • Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)40 km away
  • Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM)85 km away
  • Amsterdam30 km away
  • Haarlem40 km away

Reachable by car or public transport; a car gives you more freedom to explore the area. Distances are in a straight line.

At a glance

Best timeAll year
TypeHidden town
Good forOld towns & architecture, Coast
Getting thereCar or public transport
Stay1 night
CountryNetherlands

Questions

Hoorn: good to know

Is Hoorn worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you like historic old towns and the coast. A Golden Age harbour town with a round defence tower on the water.

How many days do you need in Hoorn?

Plan 1 night. Our free 2-day plan above shows how to spend your time.

When is the best time to visit Hoorn?

You can visit all year. Calm most of the year. Summer weekends are livelier along the harbour.

How do you get to Hoorn?

The nearest airport is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), about 40 km away. Trains from Amsterdam take about 35 minutes.

What is there to see near Hoorn?

Nearby hidden places include Edam & Volendam (14 km), Zaanse Schans (25 km) and Amsterdam (32 km).

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