Friesland is hard to experience in a better way than from the water: a network of lakes, canals and small towns all connected by waterways – and you can explore it all without a boating licence. This 7-day route takes you on a loop through some of the most beautiful towns and villages in Friesland, including seasonal highlights such as the Balloon Festival in Joure. We also introduce Yachtcharter Houwink, where you can charter the perfect motor yacht for your trip:

The Charter Company: Yachtcharter Houwink

At a glance:

• Location: Wartena Marina, right near Grou, Friesland
• Fleet: 13 motor yachts for 4 to 10 people
• Prices: Large motor yachts from around €750/week, depending on the boat and season – with prices sometimes exceeding €2,000/week during peak season; small sloops from €100/day in the low season or €125/day in the high season
• Deposit: €750, payable in cash or by card
• Licence: Not required – all boats are under 15 metres long and travel at less than 20 km/h; most Frisian waterways are limited to 6–12 km/h anyway

Yachtcharter Houwink Grou rents out 13 motor yachts from Wartena Marina, ranging from four-person to ten-person yachts. All boats can be operated without a boating license, and you can take the helm yourself from the age of 16. Children aged 12 and over can operate the supplied dinghy. Free parking is available inside the marina. The boat is handed over with a full tank and refueled at the end. Additional costs may apply for mooring in other harbors and, occasionally, for bridge fees. Overnight stays at Houwink’s own marina are free of charge.

Day 1: Start in Wartena & Grou

Highlights: Boat pick-up & your first peaceful canal cruise

The first day begins with picking up your boat and receiving your briefing at Wartena Marina at 4 pm. From there, it is only a short cruise into De Alde Feanen National Park, one of the largest wetland and lake areas in the Netherlands. It is the perfect place to moor, go for a swim, find a spot for the night and prepare dinner on board.

Tip: For orientation and navigation on the waterways, it is worth downloading the Waterkaarten App. It is particularly useful for checking water depths, navigable routes and mooring spots.

Day 2: Grou → Sneek

Highlights: Historic centre of Grou, Waterpoort of Sneek, canal-lined old town

The next day takes you to Grou, a village with a historic centre, small shops and cosy restaurants with terraces right on the water – perfect for exploring your first Frisian destination. From there, continue to Sneek. The city is considered the tourist capital of Friesland and is ideal for an afternoon on foot. Canals wind through the city much like in Amsterdam, while numerous shops, cafés and restaurants offer plenty of opportunities for a leisurely break from the boat. If you are travelling in late July or early August, you may even catch Sneekweek – more on that in the seasonal highlights section.

Day 3: Sneek → Lemmer with Woudagemaal & Sloten

Highlights: UNESCO World Heritage Site Woudagemaal, historic centre of Lemmer

From Sneek, the route continues west towards Lemmer, the “Gateway to Friesland” between the IJsselmeer and the Frisian lakes. You can spot the 60-metre-high chimney of the Ir. D.F. Woudagemaal from a distance – the world’s largest still-operational steam pumping station. It has been in operation since 1920 and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. The visitor centre at Gemaalweg 1a can be explored independently, while access to the pumping station itself is only possible as part of a guided tour. Admission is around €8 for adults. Afterwards, take a stroll through Lemmer’s historic centre with its many listed buildings, passing the old town hall and the Lemmer Lighthouse at the mouth of the Prinses-Margriet Canal into the IJsselmeer.

After exploring Lemmer, continue in the late afternoon to Sloten – with around 750 inhabitants, it is the smallest of Friesland’s eleven historic cities. Its distinctive onion-shaped fortifications were designed by the famous Dutch military engineer Menno van Coehoorn, earning the town the nickname “Sipelstêd”, or “Onion City”. Sloten makes a wonderful overnight stop. In July and August, the old cannon next to the De Kaai windmill is fired every Friday evening at 8 pm – a wonderfully atmospheric way to end the day on board.

Day 4: Sloten → Joure

Highlights: Birthplace of Douwe Egberts, optional Frisian Balloon Festival

From Sloten, head northeast towards Joure – best known as the birthplace of the coffee and tea brand Douwe Egberts, which was founded here as early as 1753. The charming town centre is perfect for a stroll and a coffee break at one of its cafés. If you time your trip for mid-July, Joure becomes the “Balloon City”. During the Frisian Balloon Festival, up to 40 hot-air balloons take to the sky every day – more details can be found in the seasonal highlights section.

Day 5: Joure → Akkrum

Highlights: Watersports village between two lakes, Coopersburg

Continue to Akkrum, a true watersports village located between the Sneekermeer and Pikmeer lakes. Together with neighbouring Nes, it forms the twin village of Akkrum-Nes. One of the most interesting sights is Coopersburg – a retirement and almshouse complex founded by a former Akkrum resident who emigrated to America and made his fortune there. The picturesque grounds feature a garden, water features and small bridges. The cosy village centre is also home to several restaurants and cafés directly on the water – perfect for a relaxed end to the day.

Day 6: Akkrum → Leeuwarden

Highlights: Oldehove Tower, historic old town, canals in the heart of the Frisian capital

Via the Prinses-Margriet Canal, continue to Leeuwarden, the capital of Friesland. The city’s landmark is the leaning Oldehove Tower – an unfinished church tower that actually leans more dramatically than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Leeuwarden’s historic centre is easy to explore on foot, with small canals, cafés and a lively market atmosphere. If you moor in the city’s harbour, you’ll have short walking distances in every direction.

Day 7: Leeuwarden → Houwink

Highlights: Final leg back to Wartena, overnight stay & boat return the next morning

The final day takes you back to Wartena along the Prinses-Margriet Canal. You can already moor at the marina in the evening and spend the night there, allowing you to return the boat relaxed and ready for handover at 10 am the following morning.

Seasonal Highlights at a Glance

• Frisian Balloon Festival, Joure: Mid-July – in 2026, from July 15 to 19. Entry to the festival grounds at Nutsbaan is free. Up to 40 hot-air balloons take off each day, accompanied by live music, a fairground and, on some evenings, a Night Glow show. If you plan your route during this week, aim to arrive in Joure in the late afternoon or evening, as the first balloons take off at around 8 pm.
• Sneekweek, Sneek: Late July/early August – in 2026, from July 31 to August 6. It is Europe’s largest inland sailing event, with more than 1,000 participating boats, live music across seven stages and a festive opening evening featuring a fleet parade. If your route coincides with Sneekweek, the city can become the lively highlight of your trip – but mooring spots and restaurants are considerably more in demand than usual.
• Sipelsneon, Sloten: A smaller but charming fair held on the last Saturday of June along Sloten’s canals.

Practical Tips for Your Houseboat Tour

• Bed linen & bicycles: Bring your own bed linen or rent it directly from the charter company. The same applies to bicycles for exploring on land – due to limited space, more than two bikes on board are not recommended.
• Bridge fees & mooring: Most bridges in Friesland are free to pass, although a small fee is still charged at a few. Overnight stays in other harbours usually involve a small mooring fee, while staying overnight at the home marina in Wartena is free.
• Keep an eye on the weather: The Waterkaarten app is useful for wind and weather forecasts on the water, especially before longer stretches across open lakes.
• Allow plenty of time: This suggested route can comfortably be completed in seven days, with enough flexibility for spontaneous stops or an additional rest day at one of the lakes.

Our conclusion: This 7-day route showcases Friesland exactly as it is best experienced – slowly, from the water, with small towns and villages that can all be reached in manageable daily stages. Whether or not you include the Balloon Festival or Sneekweek, the combination of Grou, Sneek, Lemmer, Sloten, Joure, Akkrum and Leeuwarden covers both famous highlights such as the Woudagemaal and quieter destinations such as the smallest of Friesland’s eleven historic cities and the watersports village of Akkrum.

Which of the seven stops would you most want to visit first?
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