Monnickendam is an old Dutch fisherman’s village, located just 13 kilometers north of Amsterdam. Just like the sister villages of Edam, Volendam, and Marken, Monnickendam is perfect for a half-day trip from Amsterdam. At Monnickendam you can taste the best herring and smoked eel, walk around the picturesque harbor, try a Dutch lunch of kroketten and apple pie and enjoy the beautiful views.
RECOMMENDED READ: Side Trip to Marken and Volendam
4 Reasons to visit Monnickendam on a day trip
1. Eat smoked fish in Monnickendam
The most famous produce of Monnickendam is smoked fish. In the 1960s and 1970s, there were over 30 smokehouses. You can immediately smell the smoked mackerel and eel when you enter the little lakeside harbor. Delicious.
Hop-On-Hop-Off to Zaanse Schans, Edam & Volendam
An easy way to see the Dutch countryside is by hop-on-hop-off bus. There are 6 stops in Holland that you can choose from, including Monnickendam, Edam, Volendam and the windmills of Zaanse Schans. An audio guide walking tour is included.
BOOK NOW2. Monnickendam is great to go cycling
The area around Monnickendam, Volendam and Marken is, is called Waterland. This area is very popular for cycling. The (farm)land is flat, the distances are short, the views are wide and you on your bike you will encounter many small villages and lakeside cafés. Multiple options to enjoy apple pie and beer!
3.5-Hour E-fatbike Rental with Boat Cruise
Explore the countryside of Amsterdam and cruise along the beautiful typical Dutch landscapes on a cool E-fatbike. Discover the most beautiful cultural highlights of Volendam, Monnickendam, and Marken in a 3,5 hour route. After Marken a boat takes you back to Volendam.
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3. Monnickendam’s History
Monnickendam’ is an old fishermen’s village in Holland, dating back to the 14th century. After 1575 the town flourished. The village had an excellent location: near the river Purmer. This river connected the inner sea of Holland (now IJsselmeer) to the rivers and towns in the backland. The route was also an important shipping route to and from the Baltic sea region (Northeast Germany).
Most of the buildings, but also the names of the street, are reminders of this busy period. There are many cheese factories, ship wharves and smokehouses to visit during a day trip to Monnickendam.
Disaster strikes Monnickendam
But Monnickendam also has experienced darker days. In 1484 and again in 1513 terrible fires destroyed the town. In 1916 the dikes broke. Seawater flooded the city. Only the Big Church was kept dry. All the farmers led their cattle into the church. In the 1960’s the town was expanded.
4. Going sailing in Monnickendam
The IJsselmeer is a popular lake to go sailing. There are several companies where you can charter a yacht. The yachts do not require a captain’s license, but obviously, some sailing experience is necessary. If you lack the necessary sailing experience, you can step aboard a traditional Dutch barge for a day trip to Monnickendam.
The boat takes 4 hours. The flat-bottomed ship sails between Amsterdam, Volendam, Marken and Monnickendam. On board you can enjoy regional delicacies such as dutch apple pie, freshly smoked eel and a local captain bitter.
Cycling routes in Holland
Holland is a cycling country and so the entire country is lined and dotted with special signposts for cyclists.
The cycling signpost system in the Netherlands works through junctions (fietsknooppunten) that you will find along the way. Every junction has a number and an information board which contains an overview map.
Each time you reach a junction, you can decide to shorten or change the route. To cycle from one junction to another, just keep following the route signs with the number of the next junction. It couldn’t be any simpler. Learn more about the system and find a route you like at: http://www.hollandcyclingroutes.com/. Cycling to Monnickendam is a great way to see the Dutch countryside and spend a day trip to Monnickendam outside of the busy city.