TRAVEL GUIDE HOORN

Just about 35 km from Amsterdam you can find Hoorn, a picturesque town located a shore from the large Markermeer. It’s full of historical buildings and monuments, but also museums, shops, cafés, restaurants and they recently opened their city beach. Plenty of reason to tell you a little bit more about Hoorn. 

Hoorn in a nutshell

This historical city, is situated on the Markermeer, a large lake that was formerly part of the Zuiderzee. It used to be one of the most important port during the Dutch Age in the 17th Century. Many expeditions were launched from Hoorn, and it became known for its wealth and trading’s. You can still find hundreds of monumental buildings, facades and historical statues in the city. 

THINGS TO SEE AND DO

If you’re planning a city trip to Hoorn, there are a few things we think you must do and see to get the full Hoorn experience. Here are our best tips:

• Take a boat tour with Watertaxi Hoorn. If you’re lucky, the founder himself gives you a tour, as he tells the historical stories about Hoorn is such a fun way. Little fun facts, hidden corners and funny stories that will keep you listening, anything but boring! Depending on which tour you choose, it roughly takes about 1,5 hours. You can also use the watertaxi to bring you to a spot on the other side of the city (without a guided tour).
• Visit the Westfries Museum. Until the 5th of November, you can visit a very special exhibition where a private collection of Rembrant’s sketches. Because the museum is getting a full make-over which will take up more than 1 year, this collection is the last thing you can visit until they re-open after their extensive renovation. Good to know; you can visit the museum for free until the age of sixteen! 
• Check out Hoorn’s City Beach! Come here for a picnic, play, relaxing, coffee, or dive in for a refreshing swim! It’s fairy new, so there are still a few constructions happening next to the beach. From April till October there is a food truck to feed hungry bellies, and there will be a brand new beach club opening in April 2025! Good to know: dog owners can walk their dogs on one destinated side of the beach, where they can also swim and run around freely. 

WHERE TO STAY

If you’re planning to stay the night in Hoorn, we have two amazing options for you. Of course there is more, but these are the two accommodations we’ve seen and tested, so Wander-Lust approved!

Ysbrantsz Boutique Hotel

Boutique is what we love, and this is by far the best one in its category in our opinion. Beautiful rooms with wooden framing, keeping the original historical building into place. In total they have fourteen rooms, with number 14 being the most special one – a little ode to footballer Johan Cruyff. The hotel and restaurant is run by a young family and opened their doors in 2020. Breakfast is royal, and dinner is even better here, but more on that in our “where to eat” piece. Book your stay here!

Heavens Hotel

Another amazing hotel with four stars, but a lot bigger, is Heavens. We stayed here and we can tell you that this is the most unique place to stay in Hoorn, because it used to be a Church. Well used to be…truth be told it still looks like a Church from the outside, but inside has been transformed into a wonderful hotel. Keeping the original stained glass windows, and massive pillars, which you can also find in the bedrooms. Inside each bedroom guests can enjoy a large bath and royal bed. Downstairs you have the restaurant The Saint – perfect for lunch, dinner of drinks. Book your stay here!

Curious about more hotels in Hoorn – check them all here!

WHERE TO EAT & DRINK

Not unimportant to say the least. And in Hoorn you have plenty of food and drink options! Here are some of our favorite tips:

• Ysbrantsz – yes, you have heard this name before, in the same building as the hotel is their amazing restaurant. We enjoyed a five-course dinner here and it was incredible. Carefully picked ingredients, high class cooking and all dishes looked amazing. Come here with a date, combine it with a stay, or just indulge with friends. We love their open courtyard, which is full of flowers during Spring & Summer. Oh, and the staff know what they are serving and are super friendly! 
• Appelhaven – located on the street that goes by the same name, this restaurant has it’s terrace located on a boat on the canal. You can come for lunch and dinner, and the menu is quite large! 
• Braute Cuisine – for the best breadrolls and sandwiches, you must try Braute! They call themselves the culinary livingroom of the city, and we think their right! Open till 5 pm. 
• The Brunch Brothers – the place to be for brunch! Pancakes, salads and high tea. Only open for breakfast and lunch. Read about them in our article about the best lunch spots in Hoorn.
• Café de Klinker – We’ve been told by the locals, that this is a fun place to be. The food may not be exeptional like Ysbrantsz, but it’s certainly “gezellig” and full of the young crowd. Come for beers, wine and comfort food. 
• The Bamboo Room – if you’re looking for an Instagram worthy spot, this is it. Asian style sharing plates, and right on the Roode Steen (Hoorn’s main square), this place is a favorite amongst locals and travelers.
• De Beiaard – come for specialty beers, a large outside terrace and affordable prices for food and drinks.

The Brunch Brothers

De Beiaard

Ysbrantsz

Appelkade Hoorn

Curious about where to eat lunch and brunch? Find all of the best lunch spots in Hoorn here!

THE BEST COFFEE SPOTS

Coffee makes the world go round they say, and Hoorn knows about it. We tried some of their best coffee bars, and these ones are definitely worth a shot (or two).

• Café Zoi – the newest kid on the block! For us, they served the best tasting coffee in Hoorn, along with their sweets and cakes. 
• Het Koffielokaal – Located right in between the city’s shopping district, you can sit outside or inside. They also serve a pretty decent Matcha Latte! 
• Koffie van Hoorn – friendly staff, free wifi and two floors. They serve they own coffee beans, so that’s rather special. 
• 30 ML – specialty coffees, cakes, juices but also breakfast and lunch is served here. They once started as a small espresso-bar, and now have more than eighteen location across the Netherlands! 

Café Zoi

Het Koffie lokaal