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You are going to spend a few days in Leeuwarden, Friesland and am looking at day trips you should take from Leeuwarden, The Netherlands? You’ve come to the right place. In this article you will also find things to do and what to see in Friesland.
You might ask yourself, where is Friesland, The Netherlands exactly? Friesland is a province in the North of The Netherlands. Friesland is famous for having its own language: Fries (Frisian), its 11-cities (one of them is Leeuwarden), and for having lakes and rivers everywhere. Seriously, even more so than the rest of The Netherlands. And for anyone who is wondering, Leeuwarden is the capital of the province Friesland.
Friesland has many points of interest, even if you are not that into the water, so don’t worry. Here you will find some of the best destinations in Friesland, The Netherlands that I think you should visit. Keep in mind that Friesland, as a province, is an off the beaten path province within The Netherlands. So, you won’t find that many tourists in this beautiful province, yet, but plenty of tourist attractions can be found in Friesland.
Leeuwarden has many things to do and is easy to reach from big cities, such as Amsterdam, by train. But, you would be missing out on the great things you can see in the rest of Friesland, The Netherlands. That’s why here you will find the best day trips from Leeuwarden. The travel time for these Leeuwarden day trips is based on public transportation (mainly trains). I can highly recommend you to download one of the great travel apps in The Netherlands to plan your journeys.
1. Sloten (Dutch) – Sleat (Frisian)
Sloten is a wonderful day trip from Leeuwarden, where you will feel like you entered the 16th century again. It is a quaint city that originated in the 13th century and acquired borough rights in 1426. A big part of the smallest city of Friesland has acquired the monumental status. It is also one of the 11 cities of Friesland, these are the eleven cities of Friesland that got borough rights. This is also what the 11 cities ice skating tour is named after.
Sloten is one of the places you should visit when you are in The Netherlands. I have to admit, this town is small with only 760 inhabitants, yet there are plenty of things to do in Sloten, Friesland. The fact that the city is so small, makes you feel oddly at home especially if you’re from a smaller town or village like I am. The streets are incredibly cute and the view across the small city from the bridges is beautiful. It is so calm in Sloten that you can sit at the edge of a canal for hours and not feel disturbed by people (yes, I did that: I like my peace and sometimes people are not it).
Travel time from Leeuwarden:1 hour and 3 minutes.
2. Lemmer (Dutch) – De Lemmer (Frisian)
Lemmer, Friesland is famous for the Woudagemaal. This is the biggest and oldest steam pumping station that is still workingin the world and one of the several Unesco world heritage sites in the Netherlands. Click here for an article about the Woudagemaal.
Besides that, Lemmer has plenty more to offer, as a city that has existed since the 13th century, one of those things are beautiful streets. One of those things is the beautiful beach. Lemmer is located on the IJsselmeer and during the summer you will see many people on the beach and in the water. When the wind takes off you will see people kitesurfing or windsurfing. And then, once you’re done with that, you can relax at the beach club or go back into the old city to sit on a terrace and enjoy the canals.
Travel time from Leeuwarden: 1 hour and 11 minutes.
3. Bolsward (Dutch) – Boalsert (Frisian)
This city has a little over 10.000 inhabitants, has a rich history and is another one of the 11 cities. Bolsward in Friesland, The Netherlands is so quiet. But in a good way. The city is bigger than Lemmer and even more beautiful. You can walk for hours and not get bored here. There are many events throughout the year, great places to eat at and the people are very friendly.
I am used to saying ‘hallo’ to everyone in my village and surroundings. I’m not used to saying this to people within cities, yet, this one is different. I heard ‘hallo’ wherever I was walking. If you are bored of walking around you can take a canal tour or take a seat inside or outside the many cafes that Bolsward has. That has made this city one of the best day trips I have ever taken from Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:36 minutes.
4. Harlingen (Dutch) – Harns (Frisian)
This city is another one of the 11 cities, and if you walk inside the city you can imagine why this is one of my favourite cities of Friesland. It feels rough but authentic and old at the same time. The city of Harlingen is very famous within The Netherlands for the Harlinger Visserijdagen (Fishery Days). It is meant to promote Harlingen and the fishing industry. While that might sound boring to some of you, I can assure you it is anything but.
There is music, folklore, art shows and much more. Besides the Visserijdagen, Harlingen has a lot to offer. The city of Harlingen is located at the Wadden Sea (Unesco World Heritage Site), that made it a very important fishing city in the early days. That’s why the city is so old and beautiful, but that’s also the reason why there are plenty of things to do in Harlingen and surroundings.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:25 minutes.
5. IJlst (Dutch) – Drylts (Frisian)
When people, even Dutch people, think of visiting Friesland, IJlst is somehow easily left out. And that while it’s one of the 11-cities. So, if Dutch tourists can’t seem to find IJlst, let alone foreign tourists. Which is perfect for me, because I had the city to myself when I visited. The city is, again, small, but has this charm that I cannot explain.
IJlst got its borough rights in 1268 and has a little river flowing through the city centre. One of the highlights of IJlst are gardens that are situated across the street on the bank of the little river. Their gardens are called ‘overtuinen’. And although nowadays people (the owners, not random people) sit in their gardens, sometimes you have the chance to get into the gardens as well. Once a year there is a market which leads you buying and eating your way through all the gardens. But don’t worry if you think this is all that IJlst has to offer because that’s not true.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:26 minutes.
6. Allingawier
Allingawier is a very small village in Friesland not too far from Bolsward, and worth a visit. The surroundings of the museum are already one good reason to go. You will see meadows, more meadows, and some more meadows. The reason I am suggesting you go to Allingawier is that Allingawier actually has a very big part of the village that is turned into a museum.
Here you can see how people worked and lived years ago. It was interesting to see, and you can even buy specialties such as cake that has been made the original way, from local ingredients. The museum isn’t busy, yet, but some tours want to start visiting the museum. Which I’m happy about because a friendly volunteer told me about how the museum is sometimes struggling. The reason? It doesn’t get money from the government. The entry ticket is only 4,50 euros.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:1 hour and 11 minutes.
7. Workum (Dutch) – Warkum (Frisian)
Workum is, like many other Frisian cities, surrounded by water. But Workum has a little bit more than that. On one side Workum is surrounded by the IJsselmeer and the other side the Friese meren. This makes Workum the ideal place to go sailing, canoeing, swimming, kitesurfing, etc.
However, that doesn’t mean that is all Workum has to offer. Because Workum is one of the main 11 Frisian cities, that means it is gorgeous. The best part is that you will find little boutiques, shops, and cafes everywhere. Forget about H&M or Zara, at least this time you will get an item that no one else has.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:36 minutes.
8. Makkum
Makkum is another Frisian city that is located at the IJsselmeer, which makes walking along the dike a more beautiful experience than usual. Makkum is known for having a beautiful city with, of course, canals, a great beach and for Makkumer pottery. That doesn’t sound too bad right? In the 18th century fishery and pottery were the main income; but, nowadays Dutch and German tourists like to spend a day in this area. That doesn’t mean that Makkum will feel crowded. It doesn’t. The city feels calming and rough at the same time.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:58 minutes.
9. Oldeboorn (Dutch) – Aldeboarn (Frisian)
Not many people have heard of Aldeboarn. If I can describe the village in one word, it’s CUTE. Honestly. And Idyllic. That makes it two words. But , this is together with a few other cities and villages from this article, one of my most favourite day trips from Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
The village is very small, but at the same time very old. It was first written down in 753. Absolute zero tourists, I can say that. In the previous places, I’ve seen a maximum of four tourists, but this has been zero. Until now, because I assume you’re going to visit Aldeboarn.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:30 minutes with the train and then cycling (there’s a bus, but you’d have to call at least one hour in advance so it picks you up from Akkrum and brings you to Aldeboarn).
10. Hindeloopen (Dutch) – Hylpen (Frisian)
Hindeloopen is also one of the 11-cities and got their rights in 1225. Hindeloopen is famous for the typical paintings and the beautiful, colourful, traditional costumes. One of my most favourite things to do in Hindeloopen, Friesland is walking on the dike. The reason for this is that Hindeloopen is placed behind a dike as the IJsselmeer (a big lake in the middle of The Netherlands) is behind the dike.
So, you will walk between sheep, with a view of Hindeloopen on one side and the IJsselmeer on the other side. Trust me, you want to see that view. And about the sheep: leave them alone. The reason I’m saying this is because I saw a guy who wouldn’t leave the sheep alone, even when the sheep walked away. I spoke up, I thought he got the point and walked away. Five minutes later, he did the same thing. Don’t be that tourist. Please, leave the animals alone.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:40 minutes.
11. Woudsend (Dutch) – Wâldsein (Frisian)
This has to be one of my favourite day trips from Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. If you want to visit a small town, that is beautiful and one that has a (small, but great) farmers market then Woudsend is your town. It is a bustling place yet feels calming at the same time. I was actually surprised at the number of things I could explore and do in Woudsend, Friesland. If you have the time, go for a drink at one of the few cafes and restaurants that are located near the river that divides the town. Also, Proefkantoor de Klerk has local dishes on the menu, so have a look for them as well.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:44 minutes.
12. Stavoren (Dutch) – Starum (Frisian)
If you have heard of ‘Het vrouwtje van Stavoren’ (the women of Stavoren), then you might have researched this city before. Stavoren was the first Frisian city that got its borough rights and is famous for the statue of Het vrouwtje van Stavoren. This statue was actually placed there after a famous saga that might or might not have been true.
The city of Stavoren, Friesland feels mysterious and rough to me. But that is something that attracted me to the city. The city centre has bridges and canals, and at one side of the city, there is a beautiful beach which is perfect for windsurfing.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:50 minutes.
13. Akkrum
Akkrum is a small town that lays very close to Aldeboarn. In fact, I cycled from Akkrum to Aldeboarn and back because it was so close (and a better way to explore both places). This city has a small, but the adorable centre and a weekly market. For buying fresh cheeses, new socks or fresh veggies on a market in a cute town, Akkrum is your place to be. I wouldn’t go here for a full day, you’ve seen the village in a small amount of time as there is not a lot to do and see. However, combine it with Aldeboarn and all the things you can do there and you’re settled.
Besides that, Akkrum is the ideal place for typical Frisian events such as slingeraap. Slingeraap participants need to run to grab a rope. With that rope, they are flying over a little river and hope to land as far as possible. If you want to see typical Frisian traditions, Akkrum is the place for you.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:13 minutes.
14. Balk
The small city of Balk is famous for its butter and ‘boterkoek’. Boterkoek is butter cake and something you have to try in Balk when you’re there. So, put boterkoek on your foods to try list for Friesland. You can get it at Bûterhûs. As Balk is a very small place, the most beautiful part of the city is not big at all. Still worth a quick visit though, especially for the typical Frisian foods such as boterkoek.
Every year there is an art exposition alongside the main canal of Balk. Pieces of art are placed inside, above and on the side of the canal. The city is very lively and has a very welcoming atmosphere.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:1 hour.
15. Heeg (Dutch) – Heech ( Frisian)
This is the perfect town for the water sports junkie. Sailing? You got it. Renting a boat? Absolutely. Canoeing? Of course. And much more. Heeg has acquired this status because it is definitely one of the best places of Friesland for water sports. That also means that Heeg is somewhat more crowded. But at the same time, the old and authentic feel doesn’t go away. It is a bustling, little town, with lots of people who wear sailing clothes.
You don’t need an entire day in Heeg if you’re not going to sail, or something else that has water involved. In that case, I would recommend you take a trip to both Heeg and Woudsend as these places are close by. Combining several small and cute cities in one day trip from Leeuwarden is the perfect solution for that.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:1 hour.
16. Sneek (Dutch) – Snits (Frisian)
Snits, aka Sneek, is most known within The Netherlands for Sneekweek. During this event, there are for one week a lot of sailing races. While the rest of the visitors rent a boat to see the races, the competitors are fighting hard for their spot. But, once the evening comes along the biggest competitors are friends again.
The reason? Every evening during Sneekweek there are parties throughout the entire city. If you have the chance to visit Sneek, The Netherlands during Sneekweek you have to take the opportunity. Besides Sneekweek, Sneek has a lot of things to offer for visitors. From museums to beautiful streets. As Sneek is one of the 11-cities as well, there is no reason for Sneek not to be worth a visit.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:19 minutes.
17. Heerenveen (Dutch) – It Hearrenfean ( Frisian)
This city is known for its ice-skating hall, Thialf. This is where many national, European and world championships of speed skating have been held. And this is one of the ice skating halls in The Netherlands where the best speed skaters train. But, you can also visit it and skate on the ice. Ice-skating is something you shouldn’t miss out on when you are traveling to The Netherlands. And what best way to ice-skate than in the footsteps of legends?!
Don’t worry. Ice-skating is not all that Heerenveen and its surroundings have to offer. There is much more to explore. If you do want to go ice-skating, keep in mind that during the summer it’s not opened.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:20 minutes.
18. Dokkum (Dutch) – Dokkum (Frisian)
As another city that belongs to the famous 11-cities tribe. The reason why Dokkum is famous outside The Netherlands is that Bonifatius was murdered in the surroundings of Dokkum in 754. Yet, not that much foreigners visit Dokkum so don’t worry about entering a crowded city. And if there is a crowded place, walk away from the Bonifatius statue and you’ll have the city to yourself again.
Dokkum is one of the best cities of Friesland, The Netherlands and thus one you have to visit. And if you are a coffee lover, you will love Dokkum. You have to enter a café that has the real Dokkumer coffee. That will make visiting Dokkum the best day trip from Leeuwarden you have ever done. You won’t be disappointed. I’m not a coffee fan myself, but, I know many people who are, and they love the Dokkumer coffee.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:40 minutes.
19. Franeker (Dutch) – Frjentsjer (Frisian)
One of the best day trips from Leeuwarden is Franeker. The last city of the 11-cities that you will see on this list. One thing you cannot miss is the world-renowned planetarium. It is the oldest, still working, planetarium in the world. Truly astounding how people can create something like this. Besides the planetarium, there are many other things you can do in Franeker. As it’s an old city, strolling through the beautiful streets can already fill up a nice portion of your day. Or you can even visit the oldest sports museum in The Netherlands. There are simply endless options.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:16 minutes.
20. Wierum
Wierum is a small historic village located at the Wadden Sea coast and it is the perfect place in Friesland to wind down and relax. Now, Friesland itself is already a very calm and quiet Dutch province, but Wierum has simply the best of both world. It is located at the beautiful coast of the Wadden Sea, is very small, but cosy and is a great spot to walk on a long dike and enjoy the views. After admiring the endless views of the Unesco world heritage site the Wadden Sea, I can highly recommend you to sit down at any of the restaurants and cafes that you can find in Wierum, such as tea garden Theetuin De Leeuwenkop.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:1 hour and 3 minutes.
21. Poptaslot
Friesland is home to quite a few remaining castles, although nothing as major as the provinces of Gelderland, Utrecht and Limburg. However, while there are still a few castles found in the province of Friesland, most of them cannot be visited as they are private property. And, while that is fantastic for the owners, it is less fun for us as visitors. However, the Poptaslot is one of the castles that you can visit in the province of Friesland and is located in the town of Marsum.
You can visit their gardens for free from April until September, usually between 09:00- 16:00. During July and August you can visit the Poptaslot daily (except for Sundays and national holidays) from 11:00- 17:00, as there will be a guided tour every hour (the last one starts at 16:00). There is no card machine at the entry of this castle in Friesland, so you’d have pay cash (adults +- 7,50 euros).
Travel time from Leeuwarden:16 minutes.
22. Schiermonnikoog
One of the best places to visit in the Friesland province has to be the island of Schiermonnikoog. Not only is most of the island a national park, but it is also home to one of the widest beaches in all of Europe (and that is quite remarkable). Schiermonnikoog is the perfect island to visit, especially since it isn’t the largest of the Wadden islands, but definitely filled with amazing things to do. Nature is everywhere and it makes Schiermonnikoog the perfect place to relax and take a deep breath.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:2 hours.
23. Ameland
Ameland is another beautiful Dutch islands that is found in the Unesco world heritage site the Wadden Sea. This tidal system has influenced, and still influences, every island that you can find in this region. It has impacted the people, the flora and fauna and the culture. Islands like Ameland make you feel like you’ve landed in a completely different world and as if you’re travelling to another country, simply because everything is so different. The island of Ameland is wonderful to spend a day or a week, it all depends on your preferences, but it’s truly a great place.
Travel time from Leeuwarden:Between 1 hour and 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Note: Most buses go once, or at most twice an hour. Some trains (the one to and from Stavoren) also go only once an hour. Keep that in mind. Always check 9292 for the timetable, price and when the first and last buses/trains run. Go to 9292 right here.
If you were wondering where the last city of the 11-cities of Friesland, The Netherlands is. In the beginning I wrote that Leeuwarden is also one of the 11-cities. And if you are researching the best day trips to take from Leeuwarden, The Netherlands, then I suppose you already know of Leeuwarden’s existence.
I hope this article has been helpful to you and that you want to visit more of Friesland than just traveling to Leeuwarden. As you can see, Friesland has plenty of things to do. From must-see places, tourist attractions, plenty of day trips from Leeuwarden and points of interest.
Have you heard of any of the cities that I have covered in this article? Or have you been to any of these cities and villages already? Is there a village or city you’d like to add? Click this link to have a look at all my articles. Share this post!!
