Holiday houses & apartments in Makkum

A memorable stay at a beautiful holiday home in Makkum

Makkum is a town in the municipality of Sudwest-Fryslan in the province of Friesland, Netherlands. Known for its beaches, nature reserves, and centuries-old pottery and shipbuilding industry, this quiet town is a favourite getaway of families who want a relaxing seaside holiday. Many holiday homes in Makkum are available to cater to a wide range of clientele from couples to groups on a break to this former fishing village. There are also holiday apartments in Makkum for guests who favour smaller places and intimate surroundings. Accommodations in town feature comfortable amenities with 1-3 bedrooms or more, furnished kitchen, private bathroom, and shower.

Unwind at your holiday home in Makkum

Makkum lies on the Zuiderzee, a large inland sea. It is the perfect place to relax with the family or a special someone with its stretches of sandy beaches and pristine nature reserves. Stroll or hang out at the beach, visit the historic village, enjoy fresh seafood dishes, and browse at shops, there’s plenty to do in Makkum whether you want to sightsee or just want to put your feet up and marvel at your surroundings.

Cycle, hike, and watch wildlife

Set right on Ijsselmeer, an inland bay, Makkum is ideal for lazing by the sea, relaxing under the sun, or dipping your toes in the water. If there is a lot of wind, you can also ride the waves, surf, or sail. For those who love outdoor activities, holiday homes in Makkum provide you with plenty of opportunities. Cycle, walk, or birdwatch on the nature reserves of Ijsselmeer. If you need to do something different, discover the history of the town by visiting notable merchant houses and the 17th-century weigh house which now accommodates the tourist information office. Stroll along the wide boulevard in the centre of town lined with shops and restaurants. Don’t miss the Royal Tichelaar Makkum, one of the oldest pottery companies in the Netherlands.

Why choose a holiday home in Makkum?

Makkum offers a wide range of accommodation for its visitors, but guests of the town prefer to rent a holiday home or apartment. These lodgings are well-appointed, comfortable, and are conveniently located. A holiday home in Makkum entitles guests to privacy and independence. It has more space and there’s no need to break up a large family or group providing lots of occasions to bond and do things together. There’s also no reason to leave the furry member of your family as there’s enough room in a holiday apartment in Makkum. Plus, a holiday rental is equipped with a kitchen that allows you to cook and eat when you want. For families with children, there’s no risk that they will go hungry ensuring that they get healthy meals even when on a holiday.

What to do with children in Makkum

The town of Makkum is child-friendly, you will not run out of fun activities to do with the young ones. Stay on the beach, build sandcastles, play in the water or teach kids how to fly kites. You can even sign them up for sailing lessons, it’s never too early to learn the ropes, literally. Lake Ijsselmeer is a good place for sailing and pleasant boat rides. Otherwise, the sandy beaches are sure to delight younger kids and playing or building giant sandcastles will keep them occupied whilst those interested in dyke construction and engineering will appreciate the Afsluitdijk Wadden Centre. Enjoy beautiful views of the Ijsselmeer, grab something to eat at its cafeteria and book the Aquavista, a film show and sightseeing flight of Wadden, North Holland, and Friesland.

Attractions around Makkum

If you’re interested in war history, the Casemates Museum in Afsluitdijk is a must-see. There are 7 bunkers to visit with several exhibitions demonstrating how the Dutch army protected the area against German invaders. Harlingen is an important fishing and trading area due to its strategic location on the coast. Visit its busy docks and admire heritage buildings and the Art Deco lighthouse that is a symbol of its seafaring history. If you have enough time, stop by at Friesland’s capital, Leeuwarden and take in the beauty of several architectural gems such as the Oldehove Tower and the 19th-century gaol Blokhuispoort. In Sneek, follow the canals and waterways and look for the iconic Waterpoort, a Late Renaissance styled gatehouse. Lastly, if you’re interested in academic artefacts, go to Franeker and visit the Museum Martene.

How to reach Makkum

Makkum is accessible by air, land, and water. From London, there are many direct flights to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and they typically last an hour. From the airport, it is around 94km to Makkum. You can take the intercity trains from Amsterdam Sloterdijk to Den Helder. Get on the 350 bus at Leeuwarden bus station to Afsluitdijk and from there, take the 9281 bus to Makkum. Eurostar trains also leave from the UK to Amsterdam as well as Thalys trains from Brussels-Midi. If driving your own vehicle from London, take the Channel Tunnel train to Calais, drive on the A16, then take the E40, E19 and A7/E22 to Houwdijk in Cornwerd, Netherlands towards Makkum. The entire journey will take nearly 8 hours.

Best time to visit Makkum

June, July, And August are the hottest months in Makkum, ideal for a beach holiday, water sports, and sightseeing. September is still a good month for a seaside break and there might be fewer crowds as most European children are already back in school. The ocean temperature in August reaches 18°C whilst the coldest is in February dipping to a low of 5°C. December, January, and February are the coldest months with average temperatures of 0.5°C. Although, it is too cold to be in the water, seaside walks are refreshing and there are plenty of indoor activities to keep you occupied such as museum visits or wellness treatments. If the rains bother you, avoid the months of January, August, October, and December where the average precipitation is 30cm.

Neighbouring holiday resorts Makkum

• Heeg
• Koudum
• Sneek
• Warns
• Workum
• Woudsend
• Hindeloopen
• Staveren
• Offingawier
• Oudega