Grou, the beautiful village where our shipyard is located, certainly deserves a place on the list. What was originally a farming and fishing village has grown in recent years into a truly international water sports center. Pikmeerkruiser owes its name, of course, to the location of our shipyard: on the Pikmeer in Grou.

Feel free to visit the many small shops in the historic town center. Grou is also home to as many as 40 national monuments. Some may be more accessible than others, but in any case, you’ll have enjoyed a lovely walk through a beautiful historic village. Once back on the boat, you can relax with a home-cooked meal. Or treat yourself to one of the many outdoor cafes that Grou has to offer. Sailing on the Pikmeer is wonderfully peaceful, and there are plenty of waterways to chart your own course to other destinations.

Boating on Lake Pikmeer in Grou

2. Boating through the Alde Feanen

National Park De Oude Venen (De Alde Feanen) is a national park in Friesland, it is located between Leeuwarden and Drachten. The national park has an area of almost 4,000 hectares. It is a nature reserve with a rich history and is truly unique in the Netherlands. Just sailing through the Alde Feanen is an outing in itself. It consists of lakes, reed beds, thickets and swamp forests. In addition, more than 100 different species of birds can be found.

Do you like photography? Then this area is definitely worth a visit.

Feast your eyes and take binoculars or a camera with you. This area is wonderful for a hobby like photography. The best thing about this park is that it is very well navigable, so you can best experience the Alde Feanen from the water!

3. Boating through Sneek

So you cannot sail in Friesland without visiting Sneek, normally then, because at the moment, of course, not everything can be visited. Nice to know is that Sneek is a well-known water sports village, culminating in Sneekweek, where the whole village is flooded by tourists from all over the world. During Sneekweek, people sail on the Sneekermeer lake during the day, and party on the island and in the town at night. Sneekweek traditionally starts on the first Saturday of August.

Shops, Culture, and Dining Options

Besides water sports and Sneekweek, Sneek also has more than enough cosiness and culture to offer. The town centre is very cosy and known for its many outdoor cafés. You can visit the necessary shops in the centre. In addition, the centre of Sneek is also definitely worth a stroll through, through its quaint and historic streets.

4. Boating through Leeuwarden

Friesland’s capital is extremely suitable for both the avid shopper and the true culture seeker. Leeuwarden is easy to reach from Grou and Sneek, allowing you to map out a nice route. By boat, you can moor at various places. You can visit some shops in Leeuwarden’s beautiful city centre. The best place, in our opinion, is the Prinsentuin. A lovely park you can take a stroll through. Leeuwarden is also full of great places to eat. You will find everything.

Future outing: cultural route in Leeuwarden

In 2018, Leeuwarden was the European Capital of Culture, and the effects of that are still clearly visible today. As for museums, you can visit the Fries Museum. Leeuwarden’s “skyline” can be admired from the iconic Oldenhove. Not only is the Oldehove more leaning than the Tower of Pisa, but it even has a bend halfway up. It’s a landmark in downtown Leeuwarden and a perfect starting point for a lovely city walk.

5. Boating through Langweer

Langweer is the heart of the Frisian Lakes region. The village has a central location and is therefore an ideal base for taking beautiful boat trips to the surrounding water sports towns, such as Sneek and Lemmer, but Heeg and Terherne, for example, are also within easy reach.

Langweer has a rich history, with many beautiful old buildings. The village also has a small cosy centre, where many old buildings have been preserved. The centuries-old lime trees give the main street a picturesque appearance. There are plenty of catering establishments in the centre (check their website for the current offer). You can also do your shopping in the supermarket and there is also a butcher and bakery in the village.

6. Boating through Joure

Joure we know as a Vlekke. A village with an urban character that does not have city rights. In the 15^th century, Joure originated on a sand ridge. As early as 1466, Joure received market rights, which meant the birth of the famous Jouster Merke. The Merke is held every 4^th Thursday in September and still attracts thousands of visitors. Highly recommended! Even today, there is always something to do in terms of events in Joure.

Centre of Joure

Joure has many terraces in the centre and a kilometre-long shopping street. So it’s ideal to book a day in Joure, to enjoy shopping and drinks and snacks. Currently, you can still visit shops in Joure and furthermore, you can pick up coffee or ice cream. For takeaway or delivery services, check the websites of eateries in Joure.

Douwe Egberts, Hobbe van Baerdt Tsjerke

Further, Joure, with 24 national monuments is a recommended outing for heritage enthusiasts. Think the industrial Douwe Egberts or the Hobbe van Baerdt Tsjerke. Also, the ‘Make Museum of the North’ is the ingredient for a successful day out. Walk around Joure and check out the beautiful monuments.

7. Boating through Sloten

Sloten is one of the oldest towns in Friesland. Also one of the smallest with its 760 inhabitants. Sloten lies on the Slotermeer lake and is therefore very easy to reach by boat. Old traditions are still honoured here and Sloten shows that tradition and change can go hand in hand. Sloten offers a lot of recreation on the water and there is plenty to do in Friesland’s smallest town for both the sporty and the culture-seeker!

8. Boating through Lemmer

The town of Lemmer is located on the IJsselmeer and is famous for its water sports. Lemmer has a beautiful, modern town center with the water running right through it. So you can moor for a while and visit the shops or the waterfront, where you’ll certainly still find plenty of opportunities to buy something (essentials or food and drinks). Lemmer also has a beach with a cozy beach club, where you can take a break if you’d like! For culture lovers, Lemmer is home to the oldest still-operating steam pumping station in Europe. Definitely worth a visit!