The Lauwersmeer in Friesland is one of the 21 national parks of the Netherlands. Together these parks encompass the entire Dutch nature and of course water is the central theme at Lauwersmeer. If you visit this region, you will soon notice that water is everywhere. Many activities are of course also on the water, but there is much more to see and do in the Lauwersmeer area. Take a look at my tips for the Lauwersmeer in Friesland!

Eleven cities city of Dokkum

The town of Dokkum is centrally located in Friesland, a name that may ring a bell. This is where Het Keerpunt is located, the place where the Eleven Cities Tour turns around for the last stage. Even without the Elfstedentocht, Dokkum is worth a visit. We stayed in a village just outside the city and enjoyed some fun here in the evening. In Dokkum you will find many original boutiques, fine restaurants and attractive streets. Stadscafé Artisante is highly recommended for dinner. When the weather is nice you can sit by the water, but it is also very atmospheric inside. The food is delicious, which is also important. In terms of sights, the old town hall, located next to Artisante, Mills de Hoop and Zeldenrust and the Bonifatius Park are fun to walk past. If you want to know more about Dokkum, it is recommended to take a city walk via Museum Dokkum.

Walking at the Lauwersmeer

The nature reserve around the Lauwersmeer is part of a National Park and you can enjoy lovely walks here. There are several beautiful routes to walk that take you through different types of nature. Staatsbosbeheer has set out 11 walks in the region, ranging from 1.5 to 10 kilometers in length. There is also a disabled route of almost 3 kilometers, something that has fortunately been paid more and more attention in recent years.

I personally walked unplanned parts of 2 different routes. I actually wanted to do the 6 kilometer walk Kollumerwaard. This starts at the Kwelderweg Oost parking lot (note: there is also a Kweldereweg West parking lot) and takes you through the fields along the Lauwersmeer. The reason I chose this route was because wild Konik horses and Scottish Highlanders live here. The Staatsbosbeheer website stated that part of the route was not a maintained path, but this did not seem to be a problem to me. However, 'not maintained' was an understatement and I soon found myself with my head in the grass. A great pity, because in the distance we indeed saw horses and Highlanders. I would have liked to walk there, but in this tall grass it really wasn't possible.

Ultimately we turned around and walked the 10 kilometer route that runs through forests, over fields and along the Lauwersmeer. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to see as many different areas as possible in one walk. Download the route description of both walks from the Staatsbosbeheer website.

Park Vijversburg

One of the biggest surprises in Friesland for me was Park Vijversburg. I had never heard of it before and was actually heading this way on a bit of a gamble. Ultimately it turned out to be a beautiful, spacious park full of art, flower fields and hidden corners. There are all kinds of games for children, but adults will also have a great time here. So I relaxed in a hammock and climbed the Transformers-like observation tower. Furthermore, it is just great fun to walk around here and admire all the beauty. If, like me, you come in late spring or early summer, all the fields will be in full bloom. Nice!

Sailing on the Lauwersmeer

There are more than enough opportunities to get on the water in Friesland and Lauwersmeer is the ideal place for sailing. When the weather is nice, you have to make your reservation on time, because every ship, boat or sloop is rented out on hot summer days. I don't have sea legs at all and I have been quite nervous on a sailing boat in bad weather. We sailed with Waddenzicht, a professional organization that rents out different types of boats. Sailboats, sloops and fishing boats are among the options. This means that there is actually a suitable option for everyone. Click here for more information about renting boats via Waddenzicht.

Whiskey tasting at Logement Doosje

Logement Doosje is truly a special place. The owners rent out different types of accommodations and, if you wish, they can also arrange your dinner or a whiskey tasting. We were here for the latter: whiskey. Even though I'm not a whiskey fan at all, I thought the tasting was wonderful. The owner talked passionately about this special drink and while tasting it I discovered that there is whiskey that smells like a fireplace and tastes like an ashtray (Sorry, whiskey lovers, it seems to have been a very good whiskey…). During the tasting we were spoiled with a homemade stewed pear with blue cheese and a tasty chocolate truffle. Delicious! In addition to whiskey tastings, they also organize chocolate making workshops, Japanese food workshops and high teas. Check the Logement Doosje website for all the options.

Mudflat walking to Schiermonnikoog or Ameland

Something that is high on my bucket list, but which has still not happened: mudflat hiking. During my last trip to Friesland I would have loved to cross this activity off my list, but unfortunately that didn't work out. In any case, a good reason to go that way again, because this seems really cool to me. You can walk on the mudflats from various places at the Lauwersmeer. Some walks only go over the mudflats and are relatively easy. On other tours you walk all the way to Schiermonnikoog (20 kilometers) or Ameland (12 kilometers). If you choose, after your walk you will spend a few hours on the islands before taking the boat back to the mainland. A beautiful day if you ask me! View all the walks you can take on the mudflats here.

The Tea Factory Houwerzijl

Contrary to what the name suggests, the Tea Factory is not a factory. Instead, you will find a museum, a tearoom and a tea shop here. In the museum you will learn how tea is produced and see how tea has been packaged, sold and served over the years. The tearoom is a catering facility where you can treat yourself to, of course, a delicious pot of tea and something tasty. Of course I treated myself to a high tea during my visit to the Tea Factory and I can definitely recommend it. When the weather is nice you can sit on the terrace, otherwise you can sit comfortably inside.

Stay at B&B 't Skoalhus or It Dreamlân

I stayed at two completely different accommodations near Lauwersmeer. Both are not directly on the water, but are in the region and are an excellent base for visiting the above places.

B&B 't Skoalhus is a small-scale Bed & Breakfast in people's homes. You have a spacious bedroom with your own toilet and bathroom and you can have breakfast in the morning in the communal kitchen. For breakfast you can enjoy local cheeses and real Frisian sugar bread, delicious! 't Skoalhus is located in Westergeest, a hamlet near Dokkum. I really liked the fact that you could be in the lively Dokkum in just a few minutes, so you can also go here for a nice dinner in the evening.

A stay at It Dreamlân is a completely different experience. This accommodation is very spacious and they have a camping site, group accommodation, glamping, holiday homes and a family home. Literally something for everyone. The owners are also super friendly here and are happy to give you advice about the area and tips for things to do at Lauwersmeer. It Dreamlân is located a bit more rural than B&B 't Skoalhus, but the picturesque village of Kollum is nearby.

There is so much to see and do at Lauwersmeer, you can easily spend a week here. I hope you will use these tips for your trip and I am sure you will enjoy it to the fullest. View all our tips for traveling in the Netherlands here.