Enkhuizen Attractions
Enkhuizen, situated on the IJsselmeer and traversed by numerous canals, ranks as one of the prettiest towns in the Netherlands. Its trade with the Baltic countries, and later its herring fisheries, enabled it to develop into a flourishing and prosperous port town with a population of some 40,000; but decline set in when most of the merchants moved to Amsterdam, and the final blow came with the destruction of its herring fishing fleet of 400 vessels in 1625 and the silting up of its harbor. Nowadays the economy of the town depends mainly on tourism, paper making, metal processing, fishing and bulb growing. Enkhuizen was the birthplace of the painter Paulus Potter (1625-54), whose life-size "Bull" can be seen in the Mauritshuis in The Hague.
Enkhuizen was the administrative center of Friesland until 1289, when western Friesland became part of the County of Holland. Count Floris V granted the town its municipal charter in 1355, and thereafter it began to flourish. The town walls were built around 1550 and strengthened in the early 17th century. Enkhuizen was one of the first towns to revolt against Spanish rule in 1572. Its ships, along with those of Hoorn, Edam and Monnickendam, took part in the naval battle in October 1573 in which a Spanish fleet commanded by Admiral Bossu was defeated. The population fell sharply after an outbreak of plague in 1636. With the construction of the Afsluitdijk, Enkhuizen's importance as a port was reduced, and as a result the town's economy has increasingly come to depend on agriculture and horticulture.
Tourism is an important aspect of the economy due to the inner portion of the town still intact including two 15th century churches and the 17th century city walls, gates and tower. There is also an open-air museum that reflects life throughout history.
Enkhuizen was the administrative center of Friesland until 1289, when western Friesland became part of the County of Holland. Count Floris V granted the town its municipal charter in 1355, and thereafter it began to flourish. The town walls were built around 1550 and strengthened in the early 17th century. Enkhuizen was one of the first towns to revolt against Spanish rule in 1572. Its ships, along with those of Hoorn, Edam and Monnickendam, took part in the naval battle in October 1573 in which a Spanish fleet commanded by Admiral Bossu was defeated. The population fell sharply after an outbreak of plague in 1636. With the construction of the Afsluitdijk, Enkhuizen's importance as a port was reduced, and as a result the town's economy has increasingly come to depend on agriculture and horticulture.
Tourism is an important aspect of the economy due to the inner portion of the town still intact including two 15th century churches and the 17th century city walls, gates and tower. There is also an open-air museum that reflects life throughout history.
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Zuiderzee Museum
The Zuiderzee Museum includes the Binnenmuseum with displays on the shipping and fishing industry, and the Buitenmuseum, an open air museum with late 19th and early 20th C buildings.
Dromedaris Tower
The landward side of the harbor is dominated by the Dromedaris Tower, a relic of the town's fortifications (1540). The tower, which was heightened in 1649, has a carillon by the Hemony brothers which ranks among the finest in the Netherlands. From the tower (round, with the addition of a gatehouse) there is a fine view of the harbor quarter. It served at one time as a prison, and some of the cells can still be seen.
Grootebroek, Netherlands
(Near Enkhuizen)
Old Houses
On Breedstraat, which runs south from the Town Hall, are a number of interesting old buildings with Late Gothic or Renaissance facades (Nos. 14, 41, 59, 60 and 61). There are also a number of houses of the 16th-18th centuries in Westerstraat and the Dijk.
Old Houses on Oud Haven
On the facade of a house at Zuiderspui 1 in Enkhuizen can be seen the coats of arms of Medemblik, Enkhuizen, West Friesland, Orange and Hoorn. A house at Dijk 32, dating from 1625, displays the motto "Contentement passe rychesse" ("Contentment is worth more than wealth").
Sprookjes Wonderland
On the north side of Enkhuizen is the Sprookjes Wonderland, with an interesting "dwarfs' village".
Hours
April 4 to October 25
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 |
Waagmuseum
In the Kaasmarkt (No. 8) is the old Weigh-House (Waag) of 1559, its colorful facade decorated with several coats of arms; it is now a museum. Notable features are the old scales for weighing butter and cheese; the Chirurgijnskamer (surgeons' room) on the first floor, the meeting place of the town's doctors from 1639; the delivery room (18th C.); a sick-room (1910); and a dental surgery (1920).
Westerstraat
The street called the Dijk which runs along the north side of the Oude Haven leads to Venedie and the Melkmarkt, from which Westerstraat goes off on the left. Two interesting houses in this street are No. 76 (Late Gothic facade, 16th C.) and No. 158 (Renaissance facade). At the end of the street is the Koepoort, an old town gate (1649; roof 1730).
Zuiderkerk or St Pancraskerk
Near the east end of Westerstraat stands the Zuiderkerk or St Pancraskerk, which dates from the early 15th century. The tower was built in 1450 and heightened between 1518 and 1526 by the addition of an octagonal upper section and an onion dome (total height 75m/245ft). It has a carillon by the Hemony brothers (originally 35 bells, later increased to 45). The paintings on the timber ceiling (1484) were covered with whitewash at the Reformation but were exposed in the early 20th century by the removal of the whitewash.
