Marken
charming wooden houses
Marken’s charm lies in its well-preserved historic architecture, characterized by charming wooden houses painted in vibrant colors, and its iconic raised houses built on stilts to protect against floods. These unique architectural features are a reflection of the village’s centuries-old battle against the sea.
However, Marken is more than just its architecture. The village is home to a tight-knit community that takes immense pride in preserving their traditions. Visitors can experience the art of clog-making, witness locals dressed in traditional costumes, and explore the wooden shoe and costume museum that narrates the story of Marken’s cultural evolution.
The serene beauty of Marken is heightened by its tranquil surroundings. The village is encircled by the Markermeer, a serene lake offering breathtaking views and a refreshing sense of calm. Exploring Marken on foot or by renting a bike allows for a deeper connection with its natural beauty.
In a world that’s constantly evolving, Marken stands as a sanctuary of tradition and natural splendor. A visit to this Dutch treasure promises not only an aesthetic treat but also an opportunity to appreciate the symbiotic relationship between culture and nature.
SIJTJE BOES
The legendary Sijtje Boes with her business instinct turned the island of Marken into a world-class tourist attraction. For over sixty years she showed her typical Marken house to visitors.
In the Havenbuurt 21 house, Sijtje ran a souvenir shop where she sold windmills, clogs and tulips. In 1983 ‘the uncrowned queen of Marken’ died, her shop is still doing good business.
The former fishing village has been a tourist attraction for at least a century. Marken’s striking costumes contributed to this. The wooden houses on stilts are characteristic. Even older are the so-called “yards”, artificial elevations on which people lived.
Before the Afsluitdijk was built, there were often floods. As a precaution, the residents had built their houses on stilts. With the arrival of the Afsluitdijk, the danger of flooding and flooding had passed. They walled off the space under the houses and, if so, added a ground floor.
FLOOD KILLED 16
The flood of 1916 killed 16 people on the island and left many homeless. This disaster gave the impetus to the construction of the Afsluitdijk and the Zuiderzee Works.
MOUNDS
The inhabitants raised mounds of earth, elevations in the island to protect themselves against flooding. The mounds were small, the houses had to be built close together. The alleys in between were very narrow and only just wide enough to pass each other on foot.
The coat of arms of Marken was awarded to the then municipality of Marken on 26 June 1816 by the High Council of Nobility. The coat of arms shows a blue (glaze in heraldry) shield with a moraine head made of gold. The origin is unknown. It is suggested that it is either Christ or Saint Mauritius.
The weapon has not been used since 1991, when Marken was absorbed into the municipality of Waterland.
horse of marken
The Lighthouse of Marken, popularly called the Paard van Marken, was designed by Jan Valk and built in 1839 and stands on the eastern tip of the island of Marken. The lighthouse has a light height of 16 meters and a light range of 9 nautical miles. The tower started in 1700 as a square lighthouse. Later, a brick building with a residence and storage place was added to the lighthouse, which gave the tower its characteristic shape.
The lighthouse regularly suffers from drifting ice. In 1971 this was so bad that the tower was pushed a few centimeters from its place. The lightkeeper’s house next to the tower is inhabited.
marker museum
Marker Museum is a local museum in the village of Marken in the Netherlands. The museum focuses on the history of Marken, including its fishing heritage. The museum consists of six smokehouses where eel was smoked. The smokehouses are no longer in use. The building is a national monument.
