5 Must-Dos: Fryslan

01 Dec 2011

The essential quick guide for discerning travellers
BY CATHARINA JANSEN

1. TASTE OF TRADITION

You can’t go to Fryslan, in the north of The Netherlands, without trying Fryske dumkes (sweet cookies with crushed hazelnut) and the national drink, Beerenburg (alcohol with a mix of herbs). Visit the distillery Sonnema Berenburg (Stoombootkade 12, Tel: 31 51 557 2949) in the city of Bolsward, where they show you how Beerenburg is made although the exact ingredients are secret. Then, drop by Restaurant ’t Plein in Joure (Douwe Egbertsplein 1a, Tel: 31 51 341 7070 ) for its lobster and fish on asparagus (right), or venture out to the suburbs for Herberg de Waard van Ternaard’s (de Groedse 3, Tel: 31 51 957 1846) seasonal offerings.

2. OUT AND ABOUT

Check out the Skutsjesilen Championships, an annual two-week-long sailing competition between 14 traditional boats. The regatta happens in August on various lakes in Fryslan, and each boat will have a crew of 10 or more. The highlight of the Frisian boating season is Sneekweek, a week-long event held in and around the city of Sneek. The festival starts in the first week of August with fireworks and jazz nights. You could also drive or bike the 200km route of the Elfstedentocht (above), the world’s largest and longest speed-skating competition and leisure skating tour that covers all 11 cities in Fryslan.

3. STAY A NIGHT

Stay at the luxurious Grand Hotel Post-Plaza, a posh 43-roomer that used to house a post office. Or get a room at the four-star WTC Hotel Leeuwarden, a new 143-room business and leisure hotel just outside the city that also offers long-stay apartments.

4. ART ON SHOW

Keramiekmuseum Princessehof (Grote Kerkstraat 11, Tel: 31 58 294 8958), the National Museum of Ceramics in the capital city Leeuwarden, showcases an impressive collection of Asian porcelain, including a wide selection of Ming vases. The museum also houses the best gift shop in town, with ceramics by famous and up-and-coming Dutch designers. Another museum that’s worth a visit is the Jopie Huisman Museum in Workum (Noard 6, Tel: 31 51 554 3131). On display are paintings like Friendship (right) by artist-scrap collector Huisman whose realistic drawings are simply breathtaking.

5. NATURE PURSUITS

Don’t miss the Eise Eisinga Planetarium located in a lovely Frisian canal-side house in the city centre of Franeker. Tens of thousands of visitors drop by each year to admire the spectacular moving model of the solar system which was built between 1774 and 1781 by self-taught amateur mathematician Eise Eisinga in his living room. It is one of the oldest functioning planetariums in the world.

• CURRENCY
  Euro
• VISA
  Requirements vary. Visit europa.eu for details.
• BEST TIME TO VISIT
  In summer (July through September) when temperatures average around 19°C. Winter, when Fryslan’s waterways freeze over, is perfect for skaters.
• HOW TO GET THERE
  Singapore Airlines flies daily from Singapore to Amsterdam, from where you can travel to Fryslan by train or bus. Visit singaporeair.com for schedules and fares.
• MORE INFORMATION
  visitfryslan.nl

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