"Marken, travel back in time" Top 5 Page for this destination Marken by Cheesegirl

Marken Travel Guide: 26 reviews and 153 photos

Tourist in my own country

One monday in june 2003, my husband and I waved our kids goodbye, since they were going on a schooltrip the whole day. Once the bus had turned around the corner, we realised we had a whole day ahead of us, kids-free! (Mind you, we love our kids, but not seeing them untill 5 p.m. opened new perspectives). We had to make a plan, it was a gorgeous sunny day. We decided to do our own "schooltrip" and headed for Marken, an island (connected to the mainland by a dyke), not even half an hour away from Amsterdam.

99 % of the houses are made of wood

On this monday-morning, we drove from Amsterdam through Durgerdam, a cute little village along the "IJsselmeer"; the lake, which used to be a sea, the Southsea, before it was cut off the Northsea by a huge dyke, the "Afsluitdijk" (well, actually there is a sea inbetween, the Waddensea). When you have reached Marken, you have to park your car at the parking-lot, since only inhabitants are allowed to drive in Marken. But, walking distances are short, and there are no huge obstacles for those who are in a wheelchair, just some steep bridges perhaps.

talking about small....

When you enter Marken, ofcourse one of the first buildings you see is a shop were you can buy clogs and other souvenirs.... And yes, there is a large clog in front of it, and yes, ofcourse some couple asked us to take their picture, while she was in and he was behind the clog, his arm wrapped around her shoulder. Just in the one of a million change this couple is on VT as well: if you read this, please let me know, and put the picture on VT! I ask this because I refused to go in the clog myself, only now realising what fun it would have been for you, to see me in a clog.....

Pros and Cons

Pros:less touristic than Zaanse Schans
Cons:no mills (not a con to me, but I know mills are #1 attraction)
In a nutshell:small, pure, certainly when you go there early, on a monday

Last visit to Marken: Jun 2003
Intro Updated Jun 9, 2003
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Reviews (3)

don't worry, this is NOT the parking lot.... - Marken

No cars allowed Transportation (2)

If you have arrived at Marken by car, you automaticcaly end up in a big parking lot. To enter, you have to pay for a... more travel advice

The Harbour Things to Do (1)

Around the small harbour, you'll find a few restaurants where you can have real Dutch pancakes, for instance. When the... more travel advice

bus to Marken Transportation (2)

Conexxion (public transport around Amsterdam) has 1 bus going to Marken from Amsterdam, Central station: 111 more travel advice

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Comments (2)

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Suuz Jan 4, 2005 at 8:19 AM

the GVB does not have a bus going to Marken, it's connexxion that will take you there. The number however is correct.
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Rachael71 Sep 29, 2004 at 5:33 AM

What a great idea, to be a tourist in your own town! Lovely pages - happy birthday!