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Harbour · Volendam, Holanda Setentrional
Haven van Volendam
Fishing harbour and dyke of Volendam, on the shore of the Markermeer, with boats, smoked fish shops and the low alleys of wooden houses behind the dyke.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Haven van Volendam
Volendam began as a fishing and farming village in the 14th century, when the town of Edam opened a new canal to the sea and closed the old harbour with a dyke; hence the name, Follendam. For centuries the village lived from fishing in the Zuiderzee, the inland sea that in 1932 was closed by a large dam and became the freshwater lake now called the Markermeer.
The harbour remains at the heart of village life. Along the dyke, the street called Haven brings together moored boats, fish shops with smoked eel and herring, shops and restaurants. On the inside of the dyke, below street level, are narrow lanes of wooden houses that show how the village protected itself from the water.
At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, Volendam attracted painters from several countries, many staying at the Hotel Spaander in the harbour itself. Paintings of the village are now in museums such as the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum.
On the dyke there are photography studios that dress visitors in the village's traditional costume. Boats to Marken also depart from the harbour.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
1 to 2 hours to walk along the dyke and the lanes.
Best time
Early in the morning, before the tour buses arrive, or late in the afternoon. On summer weekends the dyke fills up.
How to get there
Buses coming from Amsterdam Centraal stop near the centre; the dyke is a few minutes' walk away.
Tip
Descend from the dyke into the interior lanes: they are quieter than the harbour street. Keep an eye on your belongings on the busiest days.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Haven van Volendam
What to eat at Volendam harbour?
The fish shops on the dyke sell smoked fish, such as eel and herring, and fried fish. It's the tradition of a village that lived off fishing.
Is Volendam still a fishing village?
Fishing marked the village's history and there are still boats in the harbour, but today tourism is the main activity.
Where does the boat to Marken depart from?
From Volendam's own harbour, on the dyke.