Marken
Historic peninsula on the Gouwzee
Discover Marken - Well worth a visit
Just a single dyke connects the former island of Marken to the mainland. Amidst greenery, water and characteristic wooden houses, you can experience the unique atmosphere of this special peninsula. Stroll along narrow alleys, drawbridges, wharves and stilt houses and discover how life with water still shapes Marken.
-
Culture on Marken
Culture on Marken
Discover the heritage, crafts and icons of this former island!
-
Walk along the shipyards
Walk along the shipyards
Stroll past the shipyards and discover the unique layout of Marken. Choose from several routes and experience the wooden houses, narrow paths and surrounding waterways along the way.
-
More on Marken
More on Marken
All the practical information you need to know before visiting this peninsula.
-
Discover Waterland
Discover Waterland
Every place in Waterland has its own charm and, thanks to their cultural and historical background, they are certainly worth a visit. Curious about the area around Marken?
Heritage, crafts & icons
On Marken, the past is still strikingly visible. In the wooden houses, the traditional costumes, the crafts and the waterside location, you can see how residents have lived and worked here for centuries. Visit the Marker Museum, watch the clog-making workshop in action and see Het Paard van Marken: the iconic lighthouse.
-
Marker Museum
The Marker Museum is housed in six historic homes in the old town centre. The museum offers a unique insight into the peninsula’s remarkable history!
-
Clog-making workshop
At Klompenmakerij Marken, you can see how traditional clogs are made using traditional methods with an authentic steam engine.
-
Horse of Marken
At the very tip of the island of Marken stands the iconic Marken lighthouse! From the footpath, you can take a stunning photo of this tower.
Walking routes on Marken
To limit the disruption caused by flooding, the people of Markerendam have been building their houses on mounds since the14th century. In popular parlance, these artificially raised mounds are also known as ‘werven’. To make the most of such a werf, the houses were built as close together as possible. When the werven became fully built-up in the 19th century, the people of Marker started building their houses on stilts. With the construction of the Afsluitdijk, the risk of flooding disappeared. This meant that the space beneath the ‘stilt houses’ could also be utilised, and so the ‘under-houses’ came into being.
Of the twenty-seven original wharves, fifteen remain. Of these, eleven are still inhabited today. The wharves of Marken are iconic for the former island; you can see them from afar. To discover the charm of this place for yourself, a walk along the wharves is highly recommended! You can explore them via one of the routes.
-
Port neighbourhood route
Port neighbourhood route
The Harbour Neighbourhood Route explores the south side of the island and, in addition to the h...
(4 km) -
Rose yard route
Rose yard route
With the Rozewerfroute, you will discover a beautiful part of Marken. The route l...
(5 km) -
Church neighbourhood diversions
Church neighbourhood diversions
This short walk takes you through Marken's church quarter. Join us o...
(2 km)
Tip! Guided tour in traditional costume
Take a guided tour with a guide in traditional costume! This is a real experience and can be enhanced with a number of fun and tasty activities that have a genuine Marken flavour. Rond Marken organises these tours and tells you the stories that come to life against the quintessentially Dutch backdrop of Marken!
More on Marken
-
Tourist Information Office Marken
VV Marken is there for residents, tourists and businesses alike. From here, volunteers provide comprehensive information on activities, places of interest and events!
-
Catering on Marken
Will you opt for a great start to the day with a delicious breakfast, join us for lunch, raise a glass during a cosy drink, or round off your day here?
-
Marken Express
A unique experience of a special part of the Netherlands! Step aboard the Volendam-Marken Express and sail from Volendam to Marken or vice versa.
Frequently asked questions
People on Marken are proud to live and work on the peninsula and like to keep Marken beautiful as it is. Will you help too? You can find Marken's covenant here.
There are various transport options to reach Marken:
- By car; Marken is connected to the mainland by a dike (provincial road N815).
- Public transport; From Amsterdam Central Station, you can take the EBS bus to Marken (at the back of the station). You can also take the ferry from Volendam. This boat trip takes just 30 minutes. Departure location: Harbour 38, 1131 EP Volendam. Are you taking your own boat? Then moor your boat in the harbour for free!
- Cycle; Marken can be reached by bicycle. You can rent a bike in, for example, Amsterdam or Volendam and follow the cycle route.
Visitors to Marken have only one option for parking. When you enter Marken, you will find a large car park (Kruisbaakweg 1) immediately on your left. As a visitor, you must park here; it is not possible to drive any further. Parking a car in Marken's large car park costs €3.90 per hour (paying per 10 minutes is possible), with a maximum of €12.00 per day. Parking a coach in Marken's main car park is €19.20 per day. Motorbikes do not have to pay as long as they are not parked in the parking bay.
Parking can be paid with cash, a debit card or the parking app.
Public toilets are available at the Marken car park at a rate of €0.50. In addition, you can use public toilets and showers at the tourist office at the harbour. These are open from 08:30 to 18:30 and also cost €0.50.
Yes, you can! Bike rental Marken is a small (family) business and is located next to the Beatrix Bridge in Marken's car park. The company rents out different bikes in various shapes and sizes. More information can be found on the website.
The lighthouse is not open to visitors inside, but you can view it from the outside during a walk along the dyke.