Makkum, Súdwest-Fryslân

Makkum is a small town in the municipality Wûnseradiel in the Dutch province of Friesland. Today's resort with about 3300 inhabitants, is located on the IJsselmeer near the Afsluitdike the North Sea.

Tourism

Since the mid- 1980s Makkum has become popular with windsurfers. This is partly due to its rare on the IJsselmeer sandy beach. On the other hand, Makkum a Shallow, which means that the water far out into the sea only reached knee height so that the practice for beginning surfers is without risk. Today Makkum has several ports for sailing boats and a large campsite. The area around around Makkum is used for agriculture. Along the IJsselmeer is also a renowned nature reserve with a large variety of plants and birds.

Gallery

Sunset on the harbor in Makkum

Restaurant in Makkum

De Waag in the center of Makkum

History

In the Middle Ages Makkum was called the "Gateway to the Zuiderzee ". This once sleepy fishing village thrived then an important trading center with a flowering period in the Golden Age of the 17th and 18th centuries. His prosperity owed ​​the city in addition to other products, especially the burning of high-grade limestone. The distribution of these coveted goods transported required for the transport ship.

The center of the crest is surrounded by a yellow, wrapped in a square knot rope. Inside is a mermaid carrying a lime kiln in the right hand a sailing ship and in the left hand.

During the 19th century the importance Makkums took as a commercial city again, but it was known for its shipbuilding and the manufacture of articles of earthenware, such as the famous blue and white Delft tiles. In the 20th century, the construction of the final dike allowed an improvement of the infrastructure for Makkum. Today the " Koninklijke Tichelaar Makkum " is a popular destination as the oldest earthenware factory in the Netherlands.

The Amels shipyard in Makkum now part of the Damen Shipyards Group and is known for the construction of large luxury and mega yachts.

On 30 April 2008, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands visited the city to celebrate the Queen's.