Port of Harlingen

Harlingen is a working seaport on the Wadden Sea coast of Friesland, and its harbour is the reason the town exists. Ships have used the place since the Middle Ages, and in the centuries when Friesland traded with the Baltic, Britain and the Dutch colonies, Harlingen was among the principal ports of the north. Merchants built tall houses and warehouses near the water, and the old harbour basins still sit close to the centre, so the town and the port are never far apart.

Today the port has several roles. Cargo ships and coasters use the commercial quays, fishing boats bring in their catches, and pleasure craft fill the marinas in summer. The sheltered position behind the sea dyke makes it a good base for sailors heading to the Wadden Sea. Harlingen is also the departure point for ferries to the Wadden islands of Vlieland and Terschelling, and in the holiday season the quay beside the ferry terminal is busy with cyclists, families and luggage. Anyone planning an island trip will almost certainly pass through here.

Harlingen is also a base for the so-called brown fleet, the traditional sailing ships with brown sails that offer day trips and longer voyages across the Wadden Sea and the IJsselmeer. These vessels are old working boats converted for passengers, such as clippers and flat-bottomed barges, and a day aboard one gives a real sense of how people once travelled on these waters. The decks, rigging and creaking timber are part of the appeal, and crews often invite passengers to help with the sails.

Walking around the harbour is rewarding. The Noorderhaven and Zuiderhaven are lined with historic buildings, terraces and restaurants, and seafood is the obvious thing to order. The Hannemahuis Museum tells the story of the town in an eighteenth-century house, the lighthouse watches over the harbour mouth, and a replica expedition ship commemorates the Arctic voyages of Willem Barentsz. Events and festivals during the year bring more life to the quays.

The port suits sailors, families, photographers and anyone who enjoys maritime atmosphere. Harlingen is reachable by train from Leeuwarden in about twenty minutes. Allow half a day for the harbour and the old town, and check ferry and sailing times in advance, especially in summer when places on boats fill early.