Hoorn was created more than 700 years ago as a tiny settlement on a small river, which flowed into the sea and was later called 'de Gouw'. To protect against flooding, the residents built a dike. Thanks to the favorable location by the water, a lively trade soon developed. The village grew to become a town whose name referred to its location in a bend in the dike. Horne 'is the medieval word for turn or corner.

Story

The 14th century Hoorn was smaller than the city center of today. The people lived in wooden houses along the dike and some ways inland. The land inland was swampy, so the first houses and the first (wooden) church were built on the sea-side of the dike. Only in the course of time they began to dry small parts of the swamp and to build inland the dike. The skippers were mainly concerned with overseas trade and herring fishing. The knitted herring net was a Hoorner invention that made it possible to catch large quantities of herrings. Industry has also been able to develop through trade, especially in the field of woodworking and shipbuilding such as anchor forge, ropes and sailmakers.

By steam train to Medemblik

Above all, the old town also appeals to lovers of cultural history, who find themselves in the streetscape again. There are museums in historic buildings such as the West Frisian Museum, which is housed in the Statencollege. In addition to its history Hoorn offers modern shopping in department stores, specialty shops and boutiques. The city offers many restaurants, terraces and other entertainment options. Another great attraction is the museum steam train from Hoorn to Medemblik.