11fountains route: Hindeloopen

The route begins at the special fountain of Hindeloopen. With the church and a beautiful Hylper house in the background, the fountain quietly bubbles thanks to the small water jets that the paradise birds in the tree spit out alternately. You can sit calmly on the wooden antlers surrounding the fountain to watch it in action.

Did you know, for example, that the motifs seen both on the "Sits" (the fabrics from which the traditional costumes are made) and in the traditional painting of the Hindelooper folk artist "Roosje Hindeloopen" are inspired by the flora and fauna of exotic places brought back by the ships? Also admire the sculpture of Justitia above the door. You can take nice photos from the grass.

Now walk further over the bridge to the "Buren". Follow this small street until it ends. At number 44, you will encounter the "Kweade Wiif" (evil woman) of Hylpen. Actually, the poster on the wall does not show an evil woman but an angel with a dog. Are you curious about the story? Tug on a local's sleeve and let them tell you the story enthusiastically.

If you follow the street, you will reach the dike and "Het Oost". Here you can see how Hindeloopen has always used nature to earn money as a harbor and fishing town. On the right side is the cozy terrace of "Haiven 54" with a view of the old harbor and the distinctive building of the rescue society.

Continue along "Het Oost". At the bridge, you pass the lock and the "Sylhús", which has a special wooden bell tower. On the facade, you see artwork by fishermen hinting at the time when there was still a fish market here. Turn the corner at "Café De Foeke" and visit the special atelier "Roosje" at number 44. Here, the fourth generation of the Stallman family now practices woodworking and Hindelooper painting to produce genuine Hindelooper furniture. This is a unique family business.

Walk back to "Het Oost" and choose the path through the grass on your left, called "Oosterstrand". At the end of this path, you can go down a staircase and return to the path. On the left side, you see a small cobbled path that leads you behind the sailing club building. Here you cross back over to the other side via stairs with a bridge. Turn right and walk a bit along the "Waterkeringspad" until you can cross the water again. You then arrive at "Nieuwstad". At the corner stands a national monument, a building in the genuine Hylper style.

Turn left here and walk through the most beautiful street of Hindeloopen. On the left and right, you see beautiful facades sometimes even decorated with special wood carvings on the window frames. Before the bridge, you pass the "Vondelingenplein" with a wooden pavilion. The "Vondelingenplein" (foundling square) got this name because unknown drowned people washed ashore here and were buried. Unfortunately, nature brought them here as well.

Behind this bridge, on the left side, you see a small street leading to the Frisian Skating Museum. It is a beautiful old building. Here you can truly learn everything about the Eleven Cities Route. The Frisian tradition that, due to climate change, we probably will never experience again... Take a look. The museum also has a shop and a cozy terrace by the water.

Leave "Nieuwstad" and walk to the dike. On the dike, you can get some fresh air. From here, you can walk a beautiful stretch along the water and see endlessly far. After a big bend by the water, you can leave the dike again via the stairs. You are now back on the "Dijkweg" at the Hindeloopen Museum, shortly before the point where the route started. You will find all gastronomic establishments of Hindeloopen here.