Enkhuizen

Enkhuizen is a city in North Holland that stretches along the former Zuiderzee coast with an active harbor and traditional Dutch houses throughout the center. The buildings cluster near the waterfront where old storage structures and homes stand side by side.

The settlement received official city rights in 1355 and later became a major hub for herring trade and other fish products. This economic strength shaped the town's growth and architecture across several centuries.

The harbor and streets reflect the town's historic role as a trading center where commerce and seafaring shaped daily life. Residents today maintain connections to maritime work and local water-based customs.

The center is compact and easily walkable, with clear paths to the harbor and historic districts. Visitors do well to arrive early in the day when the harbor feels busier and it is easier to explore the different areas on foot.

The town is home to the Zuiderzeemuseum, an open-air museum displaying historic buildings and old craft techniques that might otherwise be lost. Many visitors are unaware of this museum and surprised by how thoroughly it preserves daily life from past eras.

Location: North Holland

Elevation above the sea: 3 m

Shares border with: Súdwest-Fryslân, Urk, Gaasterlân-Sleat, Stede Broec, Lelystad, Medemblik

Phone: +31228360100

Email: stadhuis@enkhuizen.nl

Website: https://enkhuizen.nl

GPS coordinates: 52.70000,5.28333

Latest update: December 13, 2025 23:16