Marken Island

Marken is a village on a former island in the Markermeer, in the Waterland area of North Holland, and it is one of the most photographed places in the Netherlands. For centuries it was cut off from the mainland, and its people lived by fishing in the Zuiderzee, building their houses on artificial mounds to escape the floods. The island was connected to the mainland by a causeway in 1957, so it is now a peninsula, but it has kept its isolated character, and the village remains small, quiet and strongly attached to its traditions.

The most striking thing is the houses. Many are built of wood, painted green with white details, and stand on small mounds, called werven, or on stilts to keep them above the water. The wooden houses have a distinctive shape, with steep roofs and small windows, and the older ones are packed close together along narrow lanes and canals. The village is compact and easily explored on foot, and wandering the streets is the main activity, with plenty of photo opportunities, especially near the harbour. The island also has a Gothic church and a small museum that tells the story of the community, including its fishing, its way of life and its folk costume.

The lighthouse is the best known landmark. Known as Het Paard van Marken, the Horse of Marken, it stands on the far eastern end of the peninsula and gets its nickname from the shape of the building, and it dates from the nineteenth century. It looks out across the Markermeer, and the path to it makes a pleasant walk along the dike with views over the water. The traditional costume of Marken, with its striped skirts and cap, is still worn on special occasions, and it is among the best known in the country.

Marken can be reached in several ways. A ferry runs between Marken and the nearby village of Volendam, a short crossing that is popular with day trippers, and a bus links the village with Amsterdam, which lies about half an hour away. Cars can drive over the causeway, with parking at the entrance to the village, as the streets are too narrow for traffic. Visitors should check ferry times, which are seasonal. There is no charge for walking around the village, though some museums and shops charge entry.

The island suits photographers, families and day trippers who want to see a traditional Dutch fishing village. Go early or late in the day to avoid the crowds, and combine it with Volendam or Edam.