One of the places you have to visit in Friesland is Workum, or Warkum in Frisian. Discover the best things to do in one day in Workum, The Netherlands here. As Workum is one of the official 11-cities of Friesland, this city is a must visit on your Frisian adventure. Even if you’re just traveling and visiting Workum for 24 hours.
Workum is a city in the province of Friesland, The Netherlands. While Workum is a small Frisian city, there are plenty of things to do so spending one day in Workum, The Netherlands, is rather easy. From typical Dutch regional pottery to kitesurfing in Workum. Here you will find a complete guide and itinerary with the best activities to spend one day or weekend in Workum, Friesland.
Last updated on the 12th of June 2022
The best activities and things to do in one day in Workum, The Netherlands
As I’ve said before, Workum or Warkum is a small Frisian city in The Netherlands. Luckily there are plenty of things to do when you’re visiting Workum for 24 hours or even a weekend. Discover the best one day itinerary with what to do and see when you’re travelling to Workum, The Netherlands, below. Remember, Workum is not a part of Holland. Those provinces are only Noord- Holland and Zuid- Holland. Friesland is it’s own province and some might get offended if you’re saying that Workum is located in Holland.
Best hotels, pensions and B&B’s in Workum, Friesland
Are you looking for the best accommodation in Workum, The Netherlands? Here you will discover the best B&B’s, pensions and hotels of Workum.
B&B de Garaazje: Check prices and availability.
Pension B&B het Smidsvuur: Check prices and availability.
Hotel Wymerts: Check prices and availability.
You can find more places to stay in Workum here.
Best breakfast restaurant of Workum
The beginning of your 24 hours in Workum, Friesland, has to be breakfast. While Workum is a small Frisian city, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any good places to eat. Because actually, the smaller the town, the sooner bad restaurants disappear. But, for a typical Dutch breakfast in Workum you simply only have to visit a bakery. So, go to a bakery to buy some typical Frisian goods and Dutch bread in Workum. Visiting Bakkerij vd Werf is one of the best things to do on your trip in Workum. Why? Because food is always the answer. Ask them for their local Frisian cookies (buy drabbelkoek!), as well as the other things they recommend, you won’t regret it.
Discover the Jopie Huisman Museum in Workum
The Jopie Huisman museum is a must visit when you’re travelling to Workum. Jopie Huisman was a Frisian self- taught master painter. In the Jopie Huisman museum you will discover the life and work of this famous Frisian painter, who is especially known for his love of nature and him having compassion. The most special thing about this museum in Workum, is the fact that Jopie himself will guide you through his world with the help of a free audio tour. If that doesn’t make you think that the Jopie Huisman museum is one of the best museums to visit in Friesland, then I don’t know what will. In my opinion, visiting the Jopie Huisman Museum is one of the best things to do in Workum.
Accessibility
The Jopie Huisman museum is wheelchair friendly, there are two wheelchairs available in the museum.
Address
Noard 6
8711 AH Workum
Do a self guided walking tour of Workum
From the Jopie Huisman museum you will start walking along the street called Noard and you pass the Sint Werenfriduskerk (church).
After you’ve discovered some great art and maybe bought a souvenir it’s time to continue on the street called Dwarsnoard and then walk the same way back until you arrive at the street called Merk. Then you will enter a small street called Skil. At number 8-11 you can find 4 old social housing projects that date back to the 18th century.
Now you will turn around and walk back to Merk where you will find the ‘gevelstenenmuur’. There are old parts of facades that were all placed into this wall.
Now you will continue your way through the street called Sud and after that will head to Seburch. At Seburch 4 you can find old houses from fishermen that date back to the 18th century. On Seburch 5 you can find an old shipyard that also goes back to the 18th century. Then you will make your way to Hylperdyk 3 because you can find an old windmill there. You can visit the windmill when the wings are turning, or if you make an appointment.
After that it’s time to walk to Pottenbakkerij Kunst they even have a beautiful collection of old Frisian pottery that is for sale, so if you want really authentic Dutch / Frisian souvenirs from your trip to The Netherlands and Friesland then buying something at this store is the best thing to do.
Eat the best lunch of Workum
There are several places to eat a great lunch in Workum. I can highly recommend you to sit down and enjoy a delicious lunch in Workum at restaurants like Restaurant Folkerts, Havenrestaurant It Soal, Restaurant Fresco or Restaurant De Gulden Leeuw.
Explore the history of Workum at the Museum Warkums Erfskip
Workum was a very busy seaport until the 18th century. You can learn all about the history and nautical facts about Workum at the museum. It’s very interesting to see how such a small city was such a crowded place hundreds of years ago. You can also find the VVV of Workum, or tourist information and office, in this same building.
Admission fee
Adults / 9,50 euros
Teens (13-18) / 5 euros
Children until 12 / Free
Museumcard / Free
On Thursdays you only need to pay 5 euros for an entry ticket, as the city hall is closed.
Information
Tuesday until Sunday 13:00- 17:00 (on Thursday the city hall is closed). You can get an entry ticket at the Waag. This museum is not accessible to disabled people, as you need to walk two stairs in order to reach the museum.
Address
Merk 4, 8711 CL Workum
Visit the oldest medieval church of Friesland
Workum is a small city that has such a rich history, you can even find the oldest medieval church in Friesland here. The Gertrudiskerk dates back to the 15th century. You can visit the St Gertrudiskerk (church) of Workum from roughly the 19th of April- 23rd of October from 13:30 – 16:30. The church is closed on national holidays.
At Sundays you cannot randomly visit the church. In this beautiful church in Friesland you can find an enormous bell tower and a collection of 18th century pieces.
Go kitesurfing in Workum, Friesland, at Soal Surf & Beach
If you’re looking for adventurous things to do in The Netherlands and Friesland then I can definitely recommend you to take a kitesurfing lesson. In Workum, Friesland, you can find some of the best kite surfing spots of The Netherlands. You can take a beginners lesson to try kitesurfing, or go for the more advanced lessons if you’re not a beginner anymore. Beginner lessons start at 55 euro. You’d have to translate their page in order to book a lesson or you can sent them an email. Go to their website here.
Discover the best shops and stores in Workum
Some of the shops and stores you must visit in Workum are Vintage Friesland, Natuurvol Essentials, Eartiids curiosa Ambacht & Kunst. Here you will be able to find some artsy, modern, vintage and antique stuff. There’s truly something for everyone in these stores, so if you’re looking for where you should go shopping in Workum, these are your places.
Discover the best restaurants for dinner of Workum
There are plenty of good restaurants where you can eat dinner in Workum, The Netherlands. At first you have restaurant De Witte Herbergh, but I can also recommend you to visit any of the other restaurants that I already mentioned in the lunch part (as many restaurants in Workum are opened for lunch and dinner).
Eat the best icecream of Workum
For the best ice cream and dessert of Workum you have to visit IJsboerderij Margje 24 (which is named after one of their cows who sadly passed away now, but her daughters and granddaughters are still living on this farm). This ice cream farm produces ice cream while they are keeping a strong eye on animal rights and environmental sustainability. The cows live on a farm where they can decide what they want to do, whether they want to go outside or stay in, have special cow mattresses, cow brushes and plenty of more. Besides that, the meadows that the cows graze in are helping the vulnerable meadow birds.
Have a look at their website for the current opening times (gesloten means closed).
You can find the best ice cream of Friesland at the following address.
Trekwei 13
8711 GS Workum
Watch the sunset at the beach of Workum
One of my favourite things to do, no matter where I am, is to watch the sunset. The magical feeling and atmosphere of another day that passes by and that you enjoyed fully is one of the best things in the world. Imagine yourself sitting at the edge of the water. You see the kitesurfers in the distance while the sunrays slowly disappear into the Ijsselmeer.
When you’re at the beach of Workum anyway, have a look at the lighthouse that is located on the other side of the dyke. When you arrive at the beach in Workum, Friesland, you should walk to the left and eventually will spot the lighthouse. It’s a white house in the shape of a rectangle. It’s one of the oldest lighthouses of The Netherlands and Friesland and dates back to 1643. Since 1880 the lighthouse of Workum is not in use anymore.
Finish your 24 hours in Workum with a drink
One of the best places to go for a drink in Workum is Havenrestaurant It Soal. It’s located in the harbour area of Workum and a great place to relax after a full day of exploring all the things to do in Workum. After you watched the most beautiful sunset on the beach of Workum, it’s time to celebrate a succesful day exploring this Frisian town.
Extra tip: Walk the Tillefonne in the area of Workum
If you have extra time in Workum or am looking for other things to do in this Frisian city, then I would recommend you to walk the Tillefonne. The Tillefonne is also called Tillefonnepaad and is a century-old path that was used to walk to the Grote/ Sint- Gertrudischurch on Sundays. These paths were especially common in areas where there was not a normal road available between the houses and church. The Tillefonne was already mentioned in the 1560s. The name comes from two Frisian words, tille (small bridge) and fonne (meadows for calves). This path follows an old Zuiderzee dyke North West of Workum, through meadows and across eight small bridges, in order for you to arrive in Workum.
To walk the Tillefonne in Workum you have to go through the small street that is located next to the Kapsalon Peter (hairdresser). This is called Tillefonne, and is also renamed de Tillefonnestege. From there you can go on an adventure and walk nearby Workum while exploring the area and feel the history of the path.
Are you planning on visiting Workum, Friesland, anytime soon? I hope this article about what to do, where to eat and where to stay in Workum, The Netherlands, has helped you. If you’re interested in visiting more cities in Friesland have a look at another article I wrote about the best day trips from Leeuwarden here. Or discover the best things to do on the Wadden Island of Ameland on one day. Are you interested in stargazing in The Netherlands? In that case Friesland is one of the perfect provinces to see the milky way. Have a look here for the best places to go and see the starry skies in The Netherlands.
