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From city to city: Sneek - IJlst | Cycling tour

(16 km)

Cycling tour along two Frisian Eleven Cities: Sneek and IJlst.

Visit two of the Frisian eleven cities and in the meantime cycle through the beautiful Frisian meadows and villages.

Sneek
Sneek, also called Snits, is one of Friesland's largest cities with almost 35,000 inhabitants. The city is known for its Waterpoort, Watertoren and Watersport. In other words: water fun. You can enjoy beautiful boating through the city centre, but also plenty of culture: visit the Fries Scheepvaartmuseum (of course, the city stays water-themed) or have a nice sip at Weduwe Joustra.

IJlst
IJlst (also called Drylts), on the other hand, is o…

Cycling tour along two Frisian Eleven Cities: Sneek and IJlst.

Visit two of the Frisian eleven cities and in the meantime cycle through the beautiful Frisian meadows and villages.

IJlst
IJlst (also called Drylts), on the other hand, is one of the province's smaller towns, with +- 3,000 inhabitants. But definitely a must visit too. From the theme of water, we move to the theme of wood in IJlst. This is because the town is also known as the Wood City. For years, logs were sawn in IJlst. Want to know more? Then visit Museum Houtstad and the iconic sawmill the Rat. Ideal: everything is at walking distance from each other! In addition, check out the characteristic waterfront 'overtuinen'.

Sights on this route

Tourist Information Sneek

In Sneek, you will find the Tourist Information at the Fries Scheepvaartmuseum. Here, a team of enthusiastic volunteers is ready to provide you with all the information you need!

Frisian Maritime Museum

The Frisian Maritime Museum focuses on the history of Frisian shipping.

Sneek (Snits)

Sneek, or Snits as we say in Friesland, is the water sports city of the Netherlands. But Sneek is more than water sports and the Sneekweek. The city is bustling with events, culture, unique hotspots, and nice shops.

Visit Sneek

11Fountains Sneek

A man with a Horn of Plenty stands on a golden ball in the middle of the water.

Water Gate Sneek

The Waterpoort in Sneek is a water gate, a gate in a defensive wall that connects a city to a waterway. In the 15th and 16th century, a defensive wall had been built around Sneek.

IJlst (Drylts)

IJlst (or Drylts in Frisian) is not only one of the famous 11 cities, but also a 'wood city'. For many years, tree trunks were processed here by the legendary wood trading companies Oppedijk and S.O. de Vries.

Visit IJlst

Museum en Werkplaats Houtstad IJlst

Experience the history of IJlst during an active visit to: Museum and workshop Houtstad IJlst. IJlst has been connected with wood for many centuries.

Houtzaagmolen de Rat

Visit wind powered sawmill ‘De Rat’ and step back in time three hundred years!

11Fountains Ijlst

Culture, like nature, consists of layer upon layer. New generations continue to build on a foundation which does not disappear.

Waterside Gardens

Unique and characteristic to IJlst are the waterside gardens on each side of the Ee.

Johanneskerk Oosthem

Voor een klein terpdorp als Oosthem, is de Johanneskerk opvallend groot. De bestaande kerk kon de belangstelling om vermaarde Reveil-predikanten te horen preken niet aan, dus werd er in 1860 een nieuw godshuis gebouwd. Voor maar liefst 400 mensen.

‘t Anker (voormalige Gereformeerde Kerk) Oosthem

Hemelsbreed honderd meter van de Johanneskerk vind je in Oosthem nog een godshuis: de Gereformeerde Kerk (tegenwoordig ‘t Anker) uit 1897. Zo fors als de eerste uitviel, zo klein en bescheiden is deze kerk.

Epemastate

Wilhelminapark

The Wilhelminapark in Sneek was laid out in 1898 in the English landscape style. It still looks almost entirely as landscape architect Gerrit Lambertus Vlaskamp intended in his original design.

Theater Sneek

In the heart of the atmospheric city of Sneek you will find the equally atmospheric Theater Sneek.

Martini church

On a raised mound in the centre of Sneek, we find the Great (Martini) church. Almost 1000 years old and with an eventful history of collapse, austerity and redevelopment. Could it be because the Frisian freedom fighter 'Grutte Pier' is buried here?

City Hall of Sneek

The City Hall of Sneek was built around 1478. The building was actually constructed on the foundations of two Frisians strongholds: a Medieval, defensible, residential tower. The City Hall was subsequently extended and altered many times.