The hidden treasures of the city.
Art and culture lovers can eat their heart out in Hoorn! Museums, diverse exhibition spaces, countless galleries and studios and outdoors art pieces all over the city are what make Hoorn to be an attractive cultural city.
Hoorn is fortunate in the aspect that there is quite a lot of culture to be found in the streets alone. It is not only the old natural treasures that form the heart of cultural Hoorn; the city has also acquired various old and new additional treasures over the years.
These can be admired in the many museums, galleries and exposition spaces. All of these locations are within walking distance from each other.
Steam train museum
One thing that definitely should not be missed is the unique museum steam train. The museum is located directly next to the train station of Hoorn. You will find countless information here about the history of the steam train. You can travel to Medemblik by steam train and from there you can finish this historical triangle by taking the salon boat to Enkhuizen.
Westfrisian Museum
Another pride of Hoorn is the Westfrisian Museum , located on the historic square the Roode Steen, inside an impressive 17th century building that once housed the State College. On the inside, the building can only impress with its domed ceilings, hidden rooms, mysterious dungeons and majestic halls. The old treasures will tell you everything about the rich history of the city and its region. A real MUST DO is the virtual reality walk that you can take through the Hoorn of the 17th century!
Culture on Oostereiland
The Museum of the Twentieth Century is a nostalgic museum where you will feel like you stepped back into the previous century. That old living room reminds you of your grandmother’s room. I used to play with these toys, and that radio used to be in our house! The museum is located in a wonderful location: an old prison on Oostereiland, near the old harbour of Hoorn.
Fancy chilling out with a movie after your museum visit? You can do that at Cinema Oostereiland, every afternoon and evening the best films will be shown here.
Still didn’t get enough of this previous prison island? Then visit the Centrum Varend Erfgoed!
Of course Hoorn offers far more museums that are worth a visit. At Achterom you will find the stunning Antiquity Room Dutch Cape Horn Sailors that keeps the memory of the Cape Horn sailors and their ships alive.
Enjoying art and culture doesn’t necessarily mean having to travel back in time. In the Korte Achterstraat you can find the splendid medieval Maria Chapel that has been furnished as an exhibition space. Temporary exhibitions can also be admired in Theatre Het Park and Theatre het Pakhuis.
Art outdoors
Various works of art can also be viewed in the outdoors. You may have already noticed the Scheepsjongens van Bontekoe in the harbour, the three most famous boys from Hoorn, that have been peering over the Lake IJsselmeer for decades now, looking at the incoming ships. But there is far more art around, just waiting to be found. Everywhere in Hoorn: in the parks, alongside the Lake IJsselmeer, in the actual Lake IJsselmeer, in the middle of the city, everywhere you will encounter unique works of art.