Hoorn
Travel Advice for Seniors: Hoorn
After an early morning sail across the IJsselmeer Lake, we docked at Hoorn for the day.
Hoorn is one of the former homes of the Dutch East India Company and the town center has been restored to its 17th-century splendor. It is like taking a walk down a street from long, long ago. This is what I always envisioned Holland looking like in the olden days.
In the historic center there are over 300 national monuments, many from the Dutch Golden Age of 1600-1700. The Dutch Golden Age was the pinnacle of Dutch power, innovation, and cultural greatness. They were the most powerful maritime and economic power in Europe and had monopolies on international trade in spices and other commodities. Additionally, the Golden Age was also a period of great artwork including that of Rembrandt and Vermeer.
The Roode Steen is the main square, anchored by the Weight House and the Westfries Musuem. The Westfries Museum gives a history of 17th-century Hoorn and the area.
A little further is the harbor which has a couple of period vessels on display. The Hoofdtoren, a 16th-century tower is next to the harbor and formerly was part of the defense system.
We also stopped by the Kaasmarkt, or cheese market for some samples. The oldest cheese market in Netherlands.
Beautiful historic area with cheese samples, not a bad way to spend an afternoon!
Where we stayed: Onboard a river vessel.
How we got there: Sailed from Amsterdam. This was part of a ten-day river cruise at Tulip Season, beginning in Amsterdam, cruising through Belgium and ending in Amsterdam.
General Accessibility Information: Major tourist sites, newer hotels, transportation and most cities are accessible. Many museums offer free or discounted admission for people with disabilities and their caregivers. Accessible travel services offer mobility equipment, accessible hotels, and customized tours. Historic parts of cities may have cobbled streets, and some restaurants may have narrow corridors. Call in advance to verify and make specialty arrangements. See our sections on specialty apps and accessible travel for more on accessibility assistance.
