Blogs from Hoorn, North Holland, Netherlands, Europe

***Second visit March 2022 photos added.*** The heyday of Hoorn was in the 17th century, when it was one of the most important Dutch East India Company centres. Founded about 1300 and chartered in 1357, it was the capital of medieval of West Friesland. Its horn-shaped harbour (for which it is named) was one of the principal ports of the Netherlands. The first great net for herring fishing was made in Hoorn in 1416. Willemstad Schouten who discovered the passage around Cape Horn andwere born in Hoorn. The Waag is a stunning building in the historic center of Hoorn was built in 1609. It was used historically as a weigh-house where goods bought and sold could be assessed for its value. It’s now a cozy cafe. WestfrIes Museum - The building itself is a Rijksmonument building ... read more

GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE, SOLD! (we felt like today was a good day to blow some money and do some shopping.) DAY SIX:Today we had organised it so that we could go to the markets on Saturday in Hoorn and do lots of shopping and check out the markets. Hoorn has a very busy vibe about it, and because the markets are only once a week it gets pretty hectic. Oma had her own little shopping list that she took because she doesn't go out into town to often she wanted to take full advantage of being there. Mum was there just to have a look around and i was there for SHOPPING!.. We arrived and parked the car only a couple blocks from the market, so it was a small walk. We had to ... read more