Full-day countryside North Holland tour by steam train and ship including South Sea Museum

Your full day on the countryside will start at the train station of Enkhuizen or if you wish to combine this tour with a visit to the Zuiderzee Holland Outdoor Museum; at the train station in Hoorn. Learn all about the area of North Holland, called West-Frisia, at your own pace with a private guide.

Start your tour by exploring the highlights of this historic town, once an important harbor to the former United East India Company (VOC). Essential to Holland’s establishment of its colonies in Asia, and to the subsequent spice trade, United East India Company was arguably the first ever mega corporation. Your guide will take you on a stroll around the 17th-century town centre. Learn about Enkhuizen’s maritime traditions in the harbour, and marvel at the old defense tower of the Drommedaris. Finally, go to the Snouck van Loosen Park to see one of the first social housing projects of the Netherlands.

After a walk around town of about 45 minutes, take a seat aboard the historic ferryship Friesland. Enjoy views over the lake Ijsselmeer, watching birds and traditional flat bottom sail ships passing by during the 90-minute trip to the next stop; Medemblik. You will have about one hour to explore the once prosperous trading town on your own.

Next, ride a historic steam train to Hoorn. From the wooden 3rd class seats in your carriage you will experience a story from a different era. The engine whistles and the fireman shovels coal into the firebox. Wooden partitions creak, wheels sing and steam hisses. The train meanders from village to village across the West Frisian countryside. After arrival in Hoorn you have time to visit the Steam Train Museum. Finally, you get to see the harbour where the spices arrived from Asia that gave Holland its prosperity.

You can choose to depart from Hoorn if you prefer, taking the tour in reverse. This option also includes entrance to the Zuiderzeemuseum in Enkhuizen.