De Fryske Marren



De Fryske Marren (Dutch: De Friese Meren) is a municipality in southwest Friesland.

Understand
De Fryske Marren (Dutch: De Friese Meren; English: The Frisian Lakes) is a municipality in Friesland created in 2014 out of the former municipalities of Gaasterland-Sloten (Frisian: Gaasterlân-Sleat), Skarsterlân, Lemsterland and a part of Boornsterhem (Boarnsterhim). The municipality counts some 51,200 inhabitants and is the fourth biggest municipalities of the Netherlands, being behind on Noordoostpolder, Súdwest-Fryslân and Hollands Kroon. Amongst the towns in the municipalities you will find the fortified town of Sloten, with the biggest places being Balk, Joure and Lemmer.

Being named after the biggest and most predominant feature of the region, the Frisian lakes, has a large quantity of water. Some of the biggest lakes are the,  ,  ,  and. Water infrastructure in general is highly represented, with over forty canals, streams and waterways spanning between the different lakes. The highlight of the area is the Ingenieur D.F. Woudagemaal (Engineer D.F. Wouda Pumping Station) in Lemmer, which is listed as UNESCO World Heritage. Historical and noteworthy buildings can be found throughout the region, though Sloten, Balk and Lemmer make up the top ten, with 50, 33 and 29 respectively.

By car
By far the easiest way to get to De Marren is by car. The A6 and A7 highways meet at the interchange just south of Joure, which can be found in between Sneek and Heerenveen (both on the A7) and Lemmer (A6). Exits 17 and 19 of the A6 are the best exits to use, with them connecting to Lemmer and Sint Nicolaasga respectively, while Joure has an entire interchange with off-ramps for itself.

By public transit
The Frisian Lakes have no train connection to be found. Instead, buses make up the public transit in the area, with the main hubs being in Joure, which is accessible from Groningen and Emmeloord (line 315), Heerenveen (lines 41 to Balk, 98, 99 and 199), Leeuwarden (line 95) and Sneek (line 99 and 199). All of these destinations have their bus halts right outside the station, with Heerenveen being the closest station that is serviced with Intercity trains.

By boat
The region, being littered with waterways and lakes, has, to no-ones surprise, some twenty marinas. When coming from outside the region, the IJsselmeer is most likely your best way in.

Get around
If you do not have access to a car, your best chance at getting from A to B is by public transit. Bus lines aren't numerous, but they get the job done. If the weather allows for it, renting a bike is advised. De Fryske Marren is mostly flatland, so cycling won't take too much effort. Bikes can be rented at three locations. Some of them allow for online orders, but do require you to have an address in the Netherlands. It's best to drop by the shop sometime and ask them if they have a bicycle to let.



See

 * Joure has three old churches, all of them along the main street. Most notable is the Hobbe van Baerdt Tsjerke with its early 17th-century clock tower. The rest of the church was destroyed by fire and rebuilt after the Second World War.
 * Joure has three old churches, all of them along the main street. Most notable is the Hobbe van Baerdt Tsjerke with its early 17th-century clock tower. The rest of the church was destroyed by fire and rebuilt after the Second World War.

Do

 * As the region is nearly literally drowning in water, it should not come as a surprise that water sports are a popular activity. Whether you're looking for a canoe (kano) or kayak rental, windsurfing school or general sailboat rental, a watersportcentrum shouldn't be hard to come across.

Go next

 * Sloten is one of the eleven cities that make up the route of the Elfstedentocht, following the course, the next cities are:
 * Stavoren (Starum) — The oldest city of Friesland, ironically, lacking the feel of a city with under a thousand inhabitants.
 * Hindeloopen (Hyplen) — Another small city along the former Zuiderzee and a former member of the Hanseatic League.
 * Workum (Warkum) — Small historical city with a protected monumental city centre.
 * Bolsward (Boalsert) — Historical city with the appeal of a town.
 * Harlingen (Harns) — Gateway to the Waddeneilanden of Vlieland and Terschelling.
 * Franeker (Frjentsjer) — Small city known best for its planetarium.
 * Dokkum — One of the larger eleven cities, known for the murder of Northumbrian Saint Boniface around 750-760 CE.
 * Leeuwarden (Ljouwert) — Start and finish of the Elfstedentocht, as well as the capital of Friesland.