Urk Harbor

Urk is a fishing village that was an island in the Zuiderzee for most of its history, and its harbour is the centre of the community. The island was connected to the mainland only in 1942, when the Noordoostpolder was drained and the sea around it became farmland, and the people of Urk have kept a strong sense of identity ever since. They speak their own dialect, which is hard for other Dutch people to follow, many of them belong to strict Reformed churches, and the village has long been known for its fishing fleet, one of the largest in the country.

The harbour is the best place to feel this. Fishing boats, both modern trawlers and older traditional vessels, line the quays, and the sounds and smells of a working port, with gulls, engines and the smell of fish, fill the air. The surrounding streets are narrow and lined with small houses, some painted in bright colours, and many of them kept from the days when the village stood on a rocky island. Cafes and fish restaurants around the harbour serve fresh fish, including the local specialities of fried fish and smoked eel, and a fish auction runs in the port. Boat trips operate from the harbour in summer.

The village has a number of landmarks that tell its story. The Kerkje aan de Zee, the Church by the Sea, is a small eighteenth-century church overlooking the harbour and is one of the most photographed buildings in Urk. The Fishermen's Monument, known in Dutch as Het Vissersmonument, commemorates the sailors who never returned from the sea, and is a moving place to stop. The lighthouse, a red tower built in the nineteenth century, stands near the water, and the Ommelebommelestien is a local landmark with a name that visitors usually remember. The old shipyards add to the scene.

Urk has also become a popular day trip because of its character and its position on the lake. The IJsselmeer is just beyond the harbour, with wide skies and views across the water, and a walk along the dike is rewarding. The nearby Schokland, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is another former island that is worth a visit, and the two together give a good picture of the old Zuiderzee.

The harbour suits families, food lovers, photographers and anyone interested in fishing culture and local traditions. Allow two to three hours, and visit on a weekday if you want to see the port at work, as Sunday is a day of rest in Urk and many places are quiet.