Hoorn Market Square (Markt)

Hoorn is a town on the shore of the old Zuiderzee in North Holland, and in the seventeenth century it was among the great ports of the Dutch Republic, with a chamber of the Dutch East India Company and a fleet that ranged across the world. Its market square is the centre of the old town and the best place to feel that history. The space is made up of two connected squares, the Markt and the Roode Steen, the Red Stone, and together they are surrounded by buildings that show the wealth of the Golden Age.

The Roode Steen takes its name from a stone on which, according to tradition, executions were once carried out. In the centre stands a statue of Jan Pieterszoon Coen, the governor-general of the Dutch East Indies, who was born in Hoorn and whose reputation is deeply contested today because of the violence of his rule. The monument dates from the late nineteenth century and the town now treats it as part of a debate about colonial history. Facing the square is the Waag, the weigh house, built at the start of the seventeenth century, a handsome building with a stepped facade and a stone relief, which housed the scales for goods.

The Westfries Museum, in a grand building with an ornate facade and a tower on the square, tells the history of the region in a series of period rooms and displays, with fine collections of paintings, silver and objects from the Golden Age, and it makes a worthwhile visit. The old inn De Drie Hoorns and other historic buildings add to the character, and the surrounding streets lead down to the harbour, with its fortified tower, the Hoofdtoren, and the old quays.

The square is also a place of regular commerce. Weekly markets with stalls selling fruit, vegetables, flowers, cheese, fish and other goods are held on certain days, and seasonal events and special markets draw visitors from the surrounding region. Terraces and cafes line the square and fill up on sunny days, making it a pleasant place to sit and watch life go by. The square is free and open at all times.

The market suits families, history lovers, photographers and anyone who likes the atmosphere of a traditional Dutch town. It is easy to reach by train from Amsterdam and Alkmaar, and it is only a short walk from the harbour and Oostereiland. Allow an hour or two, longer with a museum visit. Check market days if you want to see the stalls.