City walks Harlingen with and without a guide

Walk through Harlingen and taste the past!

Come to Harlingen and be amazed. Imagine yourself in the past (but in a contemporary atmosphere) and get to know the beautiful monuments (over 600 pieces!). Of course you can explore the city on your own! Wander through the beautiful streets, walk along the tidal harbors and on the promenade with a view over the Wadden Sea. But… it can also be done differently.

City guide team Harlingen

Get to know the story while walking, led by a Harlingen city guide. In their own way, the guides will tell you more about the historic port city, which was granted city rights as early as 1234, for education and entertainment. The city walks take 1.5 to 2 hours and can be given a theme. The duration can be adjusted to the wishes of the visitors. There are also various possibilities to combine the walk with other activities, such as a cruise, company visit, museum visit, lunch or dinner. The costs for the walks are € 3 per person (minimum price € 10). For more information, visit www.stadsgidsenharlingen.nl.

City walks on paper

On the road yourself? There are also city walks for sale at Tourist Info (€ 2.50 p.s.). They take 1.5 to 2 hours and are approximately 5 kilometers long. E.g. what can still be seen from the Spanish era is central to "Oude Sporen". The themed walk "Heads above water" sheds light on the battle with the water. The highs and lows of the 19th century are central to "The taste of the 19th century." Or do you want to walk past buildings that have been given a new function? They play the leading role in the walk "New use, old building". There is also a special city walk in honor of Simon Vestdijk. The well-known Dutch writer who was born in Harlingen. Several of his novels are set in Harlingen, although he calls it Lahringen. There is also the walk '50 Years of Hein Buisman '. A kind of homage to the foundation of the same name that has restored many old buildings in Harlingen. You can kill two birds with one stone in the "Circular walk through the city of Harlingen and the Hannemahuis museum"!

Interested in the Harlingen murals, alleys and the stumbling stones? DiscoverHarlingen.nl guides you to characteristic elements of the city.

From 1999 to 2015, 21 murals were brought back in the city center, on the initiative of Oud Harlingen. Find these gems and see a special side of our city.

There is also a special route along Harlinger alleys. In the city center there are a few dozen in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes just wide enough for one person, or the size of a street. If you walk through the alleys, you get beautiful views and see patchwork quilts of old weathered walls. In the past, the alleys also served as an entrance and exit to the many one-room houses, which were hidden behind the stately mansions. 

Route along the stumbling blocks in Harlingen

On www.discoverharlingen.nl there is also a route along the Harlinger stumbling stones. Around 1940, the small but thriving Jewish community in Harlingen numbered 45 children and adults. Get to know their life and suffering through the so-called "Stumbling Stones" at their homes.

Incidentally, a book has been published about the Harlinger stumbling stones entitled "About Ieske by Nico van Pietsje van Sakkie and all those others". With a walking route along 45 Stumbling Stones and 9 Gable Stones, so that we do not forget

Want to know more? Take a look at DiscoverHarlingen.nl

Historical walks with Hans van Potten

Hans van Potten is a certified guide and offers historical walks in Friesland. Personal attention, relaxation and fun are the ingredients of his day tours or walks. For example, taste the history of the Zuiderzee in Hindeloopen or discover the versatile history of Harlingen and Leeuwarden.
The day tour is made with a comfortable means of transport in groups of up to 7 people. Guests are picked up from their hotel, B&B or holiday home address. The city walks start from the station in Harlingen or Leeuwarden. If you have a particular interest, Hans also makes tailor-made walks.

More information: www.hanshistorytours.