Rick Steves' Amsterdam, Bruges & Brussels by Rick Steves & Gene Openshaw

Author:Rick Steves & Gene Openshaw
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Avalon Travel
Published: 2013-03-17T04:00:00+00:00

Arrival in Marken: From the boat dock at the little harbor, follow signs to the museum in the town center. Marken has no TI; the nearest one is in Volendam.

Sights: The village of Marken has two districts connected by counterweight bridges named after Dutch queens. The Havenbuurt district is near the harbor; Kerkbuurt is near the church. Arriving by boat, you’ll first wander through the colorful Havenbuurt, then head for the charming Kerkbuurt to get a taste of Marken’s old-time charm. As you walk, notice the unique local architecture, adapted to survive the challenging local conditions: Because the tides could be so temperamental, houses here tend to cluster on little hills called werven, or are built on pilings to keep them high and dry. Traditional Marken homes, while dull and black-tarred outside, are painted a cheerful yellow and blue inside.

The town’s main attraction, in the extremely charming neighborhood of Kerkbuurt, is the modest Marker Museum, celebrating the 16th-century costumes (still worn for special events) and traditional lifestyles of the people of Marken. As you enter, ask for an English showing of the good eight-minute movie (€2.50; April-Oct Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00, Sun 12:00-16:00; closed Nov-March; tel. 0299/601-904, www.markermuseum.nl).

For sustenance, enjoy some kibbeling (local fish-and-chips) at an idyllic eatery on the harbor.

Just outside town, on the way to the parking lot and the bus stop, you’ll pass Marken’s raised cemetery. Open the black iron gates and step in. Because of the very limited land (so high and dry), plots are shared. That’s why the graves are marked with numbers rather than names. With more time, you can walk (about 40 minutes) out to the lighthouse, picturesquely situated at the far end of the island, at the tip of a sandy spit.

At the far end of town is a parking lot where you’ll find the bus stop, bike rental (from the ice cream wagon), and a wooden shoe factory that is just a touristy shop unless a bus tour stops by (when they demonstrate the traditional way to carve a set of shoes).

Marken Connections: Bus #311 connects Marken with Amsterdam’s Central Station (2/hour, 40 minutes, leaves at :15 and :45 past the hour until midnight). In Marken, catch the bus along the main road that skirts the town, a little past the south end of the harbor and just past the big parking lot. For info on the boat to Volendam, see “Marken Express,” here.

Driving to and from Marken, you’ll enjoy a scenic road taking you under majestic modern windmills along a four-mile spit. Bikers have their own lane running along the top of the dike. You’ll notice lots of cows and sheep but no fences separating the farms. As the animals can’t pole-vault, the canals keep them from roaming.

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