IJsselmeer Beach

The IJsselmeer is the great freshwater lake in the middle of the Netherlands. It was a saltwater bay, the Zuiderzee, until the Afsluitdijk closed it off from the North Sea in 1932, and the water has been fresh ever since. Stavoren sits on its eastern edge in the south-west of Friesland, and the shore beside the old harbour town has a sandy beach with grassy banks behind it. It is a simple, open place, without the crowds of the North Sea resorts, and it suits visitors who like water and space.

The beach looks west across the lake, which makes it a good place for evening light. The water is shallow near the shore and warms up quickly in summer, so families with young children often choose it for paddling and swimming. Sailing boats, windsurfers and kitesurfers use the lake on breezy days, and the broad horizon is full of sails in good weather. Because the lake is fresh, there are no tides and no salt, and the mood is calmer than on the coast. A walk along the dyke and shore gives views of birds, ships and the sky.

Stavoren itself is full of stories. It was one of the great trading towns of the early Middle Ages and later a Hanseatic port, though the harbour silted up and the town declined. The legend of the Vrouwtje van Stavoren, the proud widow whose grain ship brought ruin on the harbour, is told with a statue at the harbour mouth. The town has a fishing port, a marina, houseboats and glamping units, and a pumping station, the J.L. Hooglandgemaal, stands at the edge of the lake. In summer a seasonal ferry has run across the lake to Enkhuizen, and the timetable should be checked in advance.

Practical points are simple. The beach is public and free, and there are no fixed opening hours, though facilities such as toilets and refreshments may only operate in the season. Bring sun protection and a windbreaker, since the wind can be strong, and take care in the water, as there may be currents near the harbour mouth and boats nearby.

The beach suits families, sailors, cyclists and photographers. It is a pleasant place to end a day exploring the Frisian lakes or the Elfstedentocht route. A visit can take an hour or a whole afternoon, with a pause at one of the cafes by the harbour.