The charming and quaint Dutch city of Marken makes a nice stop for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam. With its own style of architecture topping the Marken things to do list, visitors will be treated to the best of Dutch hospitality and culture. Marken is a joy to explore even if you simply take leisurely walks through the local residential areas. Journeying outward, visitors will find all they ever wanted on the history and way of life of the region.

The Marker Museum
Kerkbuurt 44-47
1156 BL Marken
www.markermuseum.nl

The Marker Museum is a great example of the local culture and architecture. The museum is housed in six former fisherman's cottages, all neighboring each other. One cottage is dedicated to the way a fisherman's family would have lived up to about the early 1930's. It  has been maintained as close to the real thing as possible, with authentic items from the time. The remaining cottages offer a variety of different exhibits that frequently change. Many are audio-visual, with the topic being Marken itself, but fashion and technology also make frequent appearances in the exhibits. Admission is two euros for this local treat. The museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm between April 1st and November 1st.

The Marken Walk

The Marken Walk, or Marken-in-the-round, is a pathway visitors can follow. It is 8 km of path along the dyke that protects the town from the encroaching sea. The walk starts at the Marken Marina, and visitors can choose to walk clockwise or counter clockwise. The trail is a circle, so you'll end up where you started. Wearing comfortable and durable walking shoes is recommended on the walk. The path can get wet and isn't always level, so caution is needed. The Marken Walk offers some picturesque landscapes of the local area. The entire walk can be completed easily in about 2 hours.

The Local Church

Located in the center of the village is the old Dutch Reform Church, which was built in 1904. Visitors are welcome to enter to view the stained glass windows and ship models. The church also displays a photo exhibition of Marken over the past 100 years. The church is open to tourists Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm between the months of May and October. There are also regular church services every Sunday at 10am and 5pm, which visitors are more than welcome to attend. Brush up on your Dutch if you decide to try it.