Last update: 2026
Medemblik is one of those small Dutch towns that feels like it carries more history, character, and presence than its size would suggest. A small place on the IJsselmeer in Noord-Holland, it’s the oldest town in West-Friesland and the northern point of what I think of as the golden triangle — Hoorn, Enkhuizen, Medemblik. Most international visitors have never heard of any of the three, and that is exactly why I keep recommending them. Before the Afsluitdijk was built and the open sea was cut off, Medemblik was a serious trading port. These days the connection to water is still everywhere but the trade has been replaced by sailing, water sports, and a lot of very content-looking yachts bobbing in the marina.
I first visited Medemblik during the 2022 lockdown, which meant the museums were closed and half the cafés were doing takeaway only, but it charmed me anyway with its peaceful atmosphere, the castle and the marinas.
Entering the town, I was seeing nothing of the old architecture I was expecting; only modern, beautiful houses with well-maintained gardens. Wondering if maybe the town is not what I was hoping for, I told myself that at least the marina must be nice and that will save the trip. But after a while I realised that Medemblik is bigger than I thought and the old city centre was yet to be reached. It’s a lovely town (the new part as well), with interesting bridges and houses. And I bet it’s a great place to live in! But if you go there to see the old city, this is (roughly) the part you should focus on:
✨Day-trip suitability
International visitors: ● ● ● ● ○ — Highly recommended if you have time
NL-based day-trippers: ● ● ● ● ●— Worth planning a day/weekend around
● Circles indicate suitability, not quality. Some subjectivity included. How to read these ratings 📜
A Bit of History
Medemblik is properly old. The name is believed to be coming from the river Leeck (or Middel-Leeck) — a stream called Medemalacais mentioned here as far back as the 10th century, and the settlement was already inhabited long before that. The town received its formal city rights in 1289 from Count Floris V, the same Floris V who started building Radboud Castle in 1288 as one of a chain of five fortresses meant to keep the rebellious West-Frisians in line. Of those castles, Medemblik’s is the only one still standing today.
The town was a major Zuiderzee trading port for centuries, until the Afsluitdijk was completed in 1932 and the Zuiderzee turned into the freshwater IJsselmeer. Cutting off the open sea also cut off a lot of Medemblik’s commercial reason for existing. What remains, and what you see today, is a beautifully preserved old town with a maritime soul that quietly pivoted from trade to leisure sailing.
One bit of history I love: in 1517, the town was attacked by around 4,000 pirates, the Arumer Zwarte Hoop, the “Black Army of Arum” from Frisia. The locals fled into Radboud Castle, the pirates couldn’t get in, and so, frustrated, they burned the rest of the city to the ground instead. The town rebuilt; the castle stood. Standing in the quiet park around the castle today and looking out over the IJsselmeer, it is almost impossible to picture that scene.
What to do in Medemblik?
● Walk around the old town center
The bits people miss when they rush in for the castle are some of the most pleasant. De Herder windmill on Westerdijk is still working, and there is a small shop inside where you can buy flour or an apple pie depending on your hunger and your luggage situation. Next to it is the Poorthuis (gatehouse), where the gatekeeper once locked the city’s gates every night; the current building is a careful reconstruction of the original, which appears in the archives from the year 1500. The Stadhuis (Town Hall) from 1939 is hard to miss — the bus from Hoorn drops you next to it. Beyond those, the old town is one of those places that rewards just walking with no plan, admiring the gardens, the small bridges and narrow streets.
● The Radboud Castle (Kasteel Radboud)
Kasteel Radboud is the centrepiece of the old town and easily the most photogenic building in Medemblik. It was built in 1288 by Count Floris V. It staid for centuries in a state of decay, and was rescued from ruin by a serious restoration in 1889. Now functions as a museum, with exhibits on medieval daily life, a small section for children, and a comfortable café at the end of the visit. The castle sits right on the waterfront, overlooking the IJsselmeer, and the surrounding park adds to the charm. Worth the visit even if you do not go inside.
Ride the Historic Steam Tram from Hoorn
If you do nothing else here, do this. The Museumstoomtram Hoorn-Medemblik is a working historic steam train that runs along the old line between Hoorn and Medemblik, cutting through some of the prettiest stretches of West-Friesland farmland. In spring it passes through tulip fields in full bloom, which is the kind of view people fly thousands of kilometres for. The standard tram takes about an hour and twenty minutes. You can ride one way and come back by modern train from Hoorn, or combine it with the ferry from Medemblik to Enkhuizen for what I think is the best day-loop in Noord-Holland. I have written about the steam train ride itself in a separate post— if you are thinking about doing it in tulip season, read that first.
Museums in Medemblik
- The Dutch Steam Engine Museum. It keeps alive the history of the steam pumping station “Vier Noorder Koggen” as well as the development and significance of steam engines. Here you can find out what amazing things steam can do.
- The Bakery Museum De Oude Bakerij. Advertising themselves as the tastiest museum of the Netherlands, this place takes you back in time (but the cakes are all fresh!). It has demonstration areas and also offers workshops, so you can learn how to prepare your own tasty sweets. It reminded me of the little bakery museum I visited at Zaanse Schans.
The marina and the harbours
Give me a town with a marina and I will be happy. Medemblik has five harbours, so there’s plenty to keep me happy there. The view across the IJsselmeer is huge and open, the boats look improbably tidy, and at sunset the whole thing turns pink. The town also hosts national and international sailing regattas in the summer, so on the right weekend the harbour fills up with bright sails and people who clearly know what they are doing. Don’t be like me and almost miss your bus because you stayed too long at the pier.
I loved Medemblik for its calmness and for the maritime vibe (please notice in the picture below how the boat masts can be seen rising behind the houses – so beautiful!) and I can’t wait to go back!
How to Get to Medemblik from Amsterdam
Medemblik is about 65 km north of Amsterdam and is relatively easy to reach. You have three sensible options.
By train + bus: the standard route is train from Amsterdam Central to Hoorn (~40 minutes, direct on NS), then bus 139 from Hoorn station to Medemblik (~30 minutes). Total: about 1.5 hours each way. The 9292.nl app is the most reliable way to time the connection — the bus is hourly, so missing one stings.
By car: about an hour from Amsterdam via the A7. This is the option I would pick if you are staying overnight or chaining Medemblik with Hoorn and Enkhuizen into a longer trip.
By steam tram from Hoorn: if you are not in a rush, take the regular train to Hoorn and then the Museumstoomtram Hoorn-Medemblik instead of the bus.
What to Do Around Medemblik: The Golden Triangle
The other two towns part of what I call the golden triangle, Hoorn and Enkhuizen, are amazing destinations for day trips. They are close enough that you could try to loop them all together, but I think individual visits are worth it.
Another Dutch icon close to Medemblik is the Afsluitdijk. It’s a quick drive north and is worth seeing for the sheer scale of Dutch hydraulic engineering.
This article is part of my Discover the Netherlands project — exploring every Dutch province, one at a time. If you liked this guide, you might also enjoy my day-trips-from-Amsterdam, or my piece on the Dutch love for day trips — dagje weg is a whole cultural thing here.
Stay tuned for more and follow Amsterdamian on Instagram and Facebook for more stories about life in the Netherlands. Please share this post if you liked it!
Check out my photo book: Amsterdam Through the Seasons!
Love what you’re reading? Support my work with a small donation.
