Hoorn Attractions
Hoorn lies in a bay on the IJsselmeer. Formerly the chief town of West Friesland, it is now an important market for livestock and cheese and the main center of an extensive farming region. It has foodstuffs, metal-processing and woodworking industries; but tourism is now also making a significant contribution to the town's economy, for Hoorn has two yacht harbors and with its fine 17th century gabled houses it is a very attractive town.
Hoorn was founded in the 14th century as a trading settlement and received its municipal charter in 1356. Its heyday was in the 16th century, when it was the leading port in the Zuiderzee. In 1573 a naval battle took place off the coast here between a Spanish fleet and the combined fleets of Enkhuizen, Edam, Monnickendam and Hoorn, in which the Spanish admiral was taken prisoner. In the 17th century the town began to decline, and many merchants moved to Amsterdam. The construction of the Afsluitdijk cut its harbor off from the open sea. Hoorn was the birthplace of the navigator Willem Schouten (1580-1625), who in 1616 rounded the southern tip of America and gave the name of his home town to Cape Horn. Other natives of the town were Jan Pieterszoon Coen (1587- 1629), who established Dutch colonial authority in the East Indies, and Abel Tasman (1603-59), discoverer of New Zealand and Tasmania.
Today Hoorn is a pleasant city with boutiques and shopping plazas, museums and cultural events, and a beautiful harbour area.
Hoorn was founded in the 14th century as a trading settlement and received its municipal charter in 1356. Its heyday was in the 16th century, when it was the leading port in the Zuiderzee. In 1573 a naval battle took place off the coast here between a Spanish fleet and the combined fleets of Enkhuizen, Edam, Monnickendam and Hoorn, in which the Spanish admiral was taken prisoner. In the 17th century the town began to decline, and many merchants moved to Amsterdam. The construction of the Afsluitdijk cut its harbor off from the open sea. Hoorn was the birthplace of the navigator Willem Schouten (1580-1625), who in 1616 rounded the southern tip of America and gave the name of his home town to Cape Horn. Other natives of the town were Jan Pieterszoon Coen (1587- 1629), who established Dutch colonial authority in the East Indies, and Abel Tasman (1603-59), discoverer of New Zealand and Tasmania.
Today Hoorn is a pleasant city with boutiques and shopping plazas, museums and cultural events, and a beautiful harbour area.
Bossuhuizen
Near the Oosterpoort are the Bossuhuizen, painted with scenes depicting the naval battle of 1573 - of which the occupants of the houses no doubt had an excellent view.
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Harbor
On the south side of Hoorn lies the picturesque harbor, with the Hoofdtoren, a 16th-17th century tower, and the dike (fine view of the IJsselmeer).
Hartje Hoorn Markten
Hartje Hoorn Markten is a folk market, with dance groups and demonstrations of traditional crafts.
Hours
July 1 to August 15
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | |
| Close |
Kerkplein
At the end of Nieuwstraat, in Kerkplein, are the Grote Kerk (1883) and the former St Jansgasthuis (1563), with a facade in the style of the early Renaissance.
Noorderkerk
Northwest of the Rode Steen stands the Late Gothic Noorderkerk (1426-1519), which has an oak spiral staircase (1497), a fine choir screen (1642) and Renaissance choir-stalls.
Old Houses
In Hoorn there are numerous old house fronts of the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly in Grote Noord, Bierkade and Grote Oost. In Achterstraat are the St-Sebastiaans-Doelen (1615), the headquarters of the marksmen's guild of St Sebastian, and the Oude Vrouwenhuis (1610), which was an old ladies' home.
Oosterkerk
In Grote Oost is the Oosterkerk, also Late Gothic (begun 1450), which is no longer used for worship. The choir and transept were built in 1519, and in 1615 the original two-aisle nave was replaced by a new aisleless nave with a fine Renaissance facade. From that period to date the wooden tower over the crossing and the stained glass (1620), depicting the naval battle of Gibraltar (1607) surmounted by the arms of West Friesland. There is a fine Bätz organ (1764). The church, restored, is now used for various cultural events.
Oosterpoort
Grote Oost leads into Kleine Oost, at the far end of which, off to the left, is the Oosterpoort, a relic of the old town walls.
Rode Steen
From Kerkplein in Hoorn, Kerkstraat leads to the Rode Steen, a square in the center of which is a statue of Jan Coen.
Romantische Markt
Romantische Markt is annual fair in Hoorn that takes place during the summer and includes fresh vegetable stalls and other food and craft markets.
Town Hall
The Town Hall (Stadhuis), in Nieuwstraat, was built in 1402 and originally housed the convent of St Cecilia. In the Council Chamber (1787), once the chapel of the convent, is a painting (by Blanderhoff, 1633) of the naval battle of 1573. In 1613 the facade of the convent was given a new gable and a double staircase. It became the Town Hall in 1796.
Weigh House
In the Rode Steen is the old Hoorn Weigh House (Waag), built by Hendrick de Keyser in 1609. During restoration work in 1912 the original blue stonework was replaced by gray stone.
