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- Zuiderzeemuseum (Open-Air & Indoor sections) — The crown jewel: reconstructed Zuiderzee village, working craft demonstrations, historic boats and realistic interiors that actually show how life and fishing communities looked before the Afsluitdijk. You can spend half a day wandering buildings, workshops and the waterfront exhibits.
- Drommedaris Tower — Enkhuizen’s thick-walled 16th-century gate tower on the harbor. It’s photogenic, full of atmosphere, sometimes hosts concerts or exhibitions, and is the best physical symbol of Enkhuizen’s maritime past.
- Noorderhaven & Buitenhaven (Historic harbors) — The working and historic quays where traditional fishing boats, yachts and museum ships moor. Walk the quays for close-up ship spotting, old fishermen’s houses, and the best harbor-side views
- Zuiderzeemuseum (Open-Air & Indoor sections) — The crown jewel: reconstructed Zuiderzee village, working craft demonstrations, historic boats and realistic interiors that actually show how life and fishing communities looked before the Afsluitdijk. You can spend half a day wandering buildings, workshops and the waterfront exhibits.
- Drommedaris Tower — Enkhuizen’s thick-walled 16th-century gate tower on the harbor. It’s photogenic, full of atmosphere, sometimes hosts concerts or exhibitions, and is the best physical symbol of Enkhuizen’s maritime past.
- Noorderhaven & Buitenhaven (Historic harbors) — The working and historic quays where traditional fishing boats, yachts and museum ships moor. Walk the quays for close-up ship spotting, old fishermen’s houses, and the best harbor-side views of the town.
- Westerstraat and the merchant houses — A compact strip of well-preserved 17th- and 18th-century merchants’ façades, narrow canals and tucked-away courtyards. Good for mooching between galleries, antique shops and tiny cafés—shows the wealth Enkhuizen had in the Golden Age.
- Grote Kerk (Saint Pancras / the Great Church) — The big old church in the centre with a fine interior, historic organ and strong vertical presence in the skyline. Even if you’re not religious, the architecture and atmosphere are worth a quiet visit.
- Stadhuis (City Hall) & Market Square — The sculptural town hall and surrounding Markt area give a very human scale to Enkhuizen’s civic history. On market days the square fills with local produce and character—great for people-watching and local snacks.
- Stadswallen and ramparts — The surviving city defenses and green ramparts let you walk the old perimeter and get unexpected views across the IJsselmeer and over the town roofs. It’s an easy, low-effort way to connect with Enkhuizen’s strategic history.
- Enkhuizen windmills — Several historic mills clustered near the town are visitable and sometimes in operation. They’re tangible reminders of the region’s rural and industrial past—great for photos and a short stroll outside the immediate canal streets.
- Small shipyards & traditional boat workshops — Look for the local boatbuilders and repair sheds along the quays: real hands-on maritime craft is still practiced here. It’s a live link to the working harbor—not a showroom, but actual boats being mended and built.
- Harborfront cafés, fish stalls and street markets — The daily life stuff: grab herring, a smoked eel or coffee at a quay café, and sit watching lines and nets. These simple, edible experiences give more of the town’s soul than any brochure.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.