Naarden Attractions

Naarden, chief place in the Gooi area, lies at the south end of the IJsselmeer. It is an attractive little town surrounded by a star-shaped system of fortifications laid out in accordance with the principles of the great French military engineer Vauban (1633-1707). The harbor of this old fortified town, which first appears in the records in the 10th century, was constructed in 1411, and thereafter it developed into an important fishing port. It suffered a setback when the fortifications were rebuilt and the harbor was closed, but later recovered when its cloth trade prospered. Its main role nowadays is as a commuters' suburb of Amsterdam, 20km/12-.5mi away. The tourist trade also makes a contribution to its economy.