5 'must sees' on the former island Urk
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Surprise from the sea
Make the most of one day on Urk
Those who think of Urk often immediately think of fish. But did you know that Urk is also a very picturesque village? It really is a lot of fun to walk through Urk. And because Urk has been around for so long, it is a nice change from Flevoland's newer towns and villages. In this blog, you will read the 5 must-see locations on Urk. Yes, it is on Urk, because Urk used to be an island. You can read more about Urk's story here. It's best to visit Urk from Monday to Saturday, because on Sundays the Urker population stick to their Sunday rest.
Tip #1
The old harbour
Start your visit at the old harbour on Urk. There are also many parking spaces here, so you can easily park your car. At the old harbour, you will see many cutters. This is the most common type of fishing boat in Urk. A cutter used for fishing can be recognised by the letter code of its home port (UK) and a serial number. Also, the back is lower than the front of the boat. Near the harbour on the quay, you will find lots of nice seafood restaurants. And remember: you can't have been to Urk without tasting some delicious fish!
More about the harbour
Tip #2
National monument The Old Bakery
Then walk into the village. Be surprised by Urk's authentic houses and alleyways, or ginkies. Typical Urkers. It is also fun to book a ginkie tour: a guided tour by a real Urker. Arrived at The Old Bakery? This is the perfect time to take a break and order a cup of coffee with Urker dikkoek. Dikkoek used to be known as poor man's food. On Urk, ingredients used to be scarce and people poor. To make dikkoek, all you need is flour, sultanas and bacon. It rises about 10 centimetres, hence the name (dik means fat or big). And it is enormously powerful: if a fisherman was given dikkoek by his wife, it would last him a while.
More about The Old Bakery
Tip #3
The little church by the sea & the Fishermen's Monument
Walk further towards the coast. You will pass ‘The little church by the sea’. This is a rebuilt church. The original church was built in 1600, but over time it became an island off the coast of Urk. Urkers could only reach the little church by boat. In 1786, the church was rebuilt on the mainland, at the time as a gift from the municipality of Amsterdam, to which Urk then belonged. It is the oldest building on Urk. Today, the church is no longer used for Sunday service, but is used for wedding and funeral services. A little further on, right on the coast, you will find the Fishermen's Monument. This monument is for Urk's fisherman killed at sea. The statue is a fisherwoman taking one last look at the sea where her beloved should have come from. Around the statue are the names and ages of all the fishermen who perished on marble slabs. Take time to read them all. You will come across many surnames frequently. And be amazed at just how young some of the fishermen were. Very awe-inspiring!
More about the Fishermen's Monument
Tip #4
The lighthouse
Urk's 18-metre-high lighthouse stands on the westernmost part of the village. The lighthouse is the beacon for fishermen to find their way home. In the summer months, the lighthouse can be climbed for a fee. From this spot, you also have great views over the IIsselmeer and can take a lovely walk along the water. Keep to the Westhavenkade to get back to the old harbour.
More about the lighthouse on Urk
Tip #5
The lock at Urk & Vissering pumping station
On your way back home, make one last stop at the Urkersluis and Gemaal Vissering. This is the real experience of Flevoland. On one side, you see the low Urkervaart canal, while on the other, the much higher IJsselmeer stretches out. This is because Flevoland is on average five metres below NAP and the dikes and pumping stations keep Flevoland dry. Several locks allow boats to enter and leave Flevoland. Flevoland has a total of seven pumping stations.
More about Vissering pumping station