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Zuiderzee Museum in Enkhuizen is an open air museum dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of the Zuiderzee region.

As a person who’s fascinated by how people live — interested in seeing their homes and learning about their habits — I’ve always dreamt of going back in time to experience everyday life in various eras. I have no nostalgia for the past; don’t get me wrong, I love our modern times and wouldn’t dream of living in another age. But I do have a deep curiosity. What were their morning routines like? What did they eat, wear, and talk about? Where did they sleep? Unfortunately, time travel isn’t possible, but there are a few places where part of my curiosity can be satisfied, such as outdoor heritage sites where entire villages are preserved or recreated. One such place is the open-air cultural centre in Enkhuizen that I’m going to talk about today.

Enkhuizen, a charming village on the IJsselmeer

Enkhuizen is a charming town on the shores of IJsselmeer, once an important fishing port until the Zuiderzee was closed off in 1932 by the construction of the Afsluitdijk, a dam that severed the connection to the sea. The Zuiderzee was a shallow bay of the North Sea in the northwest of the Netherlands. After it was closed off, the area was divided in two: the waters south of the Afsluitdijk are now called the IJsselmeer, while those to the north are known as the Wadden Sea. This dam was needed to protect the country from flooding.

Traces of Enkhuizen’s maritime past can be seen throughout the town, and its connection to the water remains vital today. Enkhuizen is often referred to as “Haringstad” (Herring Town) due to its fishing history. The town has a large harbour filled with modern boats and is a popular destination for boat rides and water sports.

Zuiderzee Museum, a testament of times long past

The Zuiderzee museum aims to preserve a glimpse of that past life for us to experience and for the locals to remember their history. The outdoor section is designed like an authentic village, complete with canals, churches, and even a few animals.

The indoor section features a variety of exhibitions showcasing the history of the region, including reconstructed house interiors, art, and various artefacts. It also houses a large collection of historical boats in the Schepenhal.

History of the Zuiderzee Museum

The idea for this open air museum came around 1930, with an exhibition held in the park along the sea wall: Zuiderzee Visscherij Tentoonstelling (Southern Sea Fishing Exhibition). This showcased cardboard houses and costumed locals from around the Zuiderzee. The plans had to be put on hold though because of the war, but in 1949 the museum held a very successful exhibition that was the first brick in constructing the indoor museum. After this, the Zuiderzee Museum bought some warehouses from seed company Sluis & Groot for the symbolic amount of 1 guilder, so they can start the outdoor museum as well.

The open air museum had its official opening in 1983, with Queen Beatrix as a guest of honour.

What can you see in the open air museum Zuiderzee

There are over 140 historical buildings in Zuiderzee museum, that recreate life in the region as it was a century ago. Some of these buildings are authentic, relocated here in their entirety, while others are faithful replicas. You can wander around the place and – my favourite part — enter the buildings to explore the interiors, which are also meticulously recreated. Though the food on the tables is made of plastic, it looks so realistic that you almost expect to be invited to sit down and try it. Be prepared for a few surprises as well—some houses feature special effects, like the “old lady” sleeping in her bed and coughing, giving unsuspecting visitors a fright!

There’s a big variety of buildings to be seen, including a windmill, lime kilns, a fish-smoking house, a steam laundry, a drugstore, a pharmacy, a basketmaker’s workshop, a blacksmith’s forge, a cheese warehouse, a school, and even a hairdresser’s, among others.

The museum is peppered with ateliers where you can watch craftsmen at work. Dressed in traditional costumes, they’re happy to answer any questions visitors might have about their craft. There’s even a smokehouse where you can enjoy smoked fish for lunch. Kids can get involved too—they can dress up in traditional costumes, craft boats from wooden clogs, learn to milk a (fake) cow, or simply run around playing games that have been enjoyed for centuries.

One of the things I like about Zuiderzee museum is its authentic presentation and and the absence of typical souvenir shops selling wooden tulips clicheś. You can buy, instead, handmade objects from the ateliers, which I find amazing. You can easily spend half a day here, if not longer. The museum also has a few restaurants where you can stop for refreshments and rest before continuing your exploration.

Around the year, the museum hosts various events, like the Maritime Festival and Country Goat Inspection in August, or evenings in the open-air museum in autumn, when the place is lit with more than a thousand storm lanterns, the houses are open and visitors can join the field barge for an atmospheric trip on the canals.

Opening hours: the indoor museum is open year-round from 10.00-17.00, while the outdoor museum is open only from Easter to late October/first days of November.

How to get there: take the train to Enkhuizen and then you can walk to the museum from the train station, following the old fashioned street signs (or Google Maps). Don’t forget to take a walk in the beautiful town afterwards, because there is a lot too see and the atmosphere is very chill.

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