Sights in Monnickendam

What are the main sights in Monnickendam?

The main sights in Monnickendam are the Speeltoren on the Noordeinde, a late-medieval tower with a wooden Renaissance crown from 1591/1592 and the world's oldest hand-played carillon; the Grote or Sint-Nicolaaskerk on De Zarken, a late-Gothic hall church whose construction began around 1400 and whose tower is 55 metres high; the Waag on the Middendam, a 17th-century weigh house beside the dam lock; the old town hall on the Noordeinde, the former town hall dating from 1746; and the historic centre itself, designated a protected historic townscape on 24 July 1970. Together with these comes the harbour on the Gouwzee, which still defines the face of Monnickendam.

The Speeltoren and the oldest hand-played carillon

The Speeltoren stands at Noordeinde 2 and is the icon of Monnickendam. Its stone body dates from the second half of the 15th or the first half of the 16th century and is very probably a remnant of the town's former parish church, which stood at the junction of Noordeinde, Middendam and Kerkstraat. The church disappeared; the tower remained and for centuries formed part of the town hall, which was demolished in 1814. The wooden Renaissance crown was placed on the tower in 1591/1592. The Speeltoren is Dutch national monument number 30007.

The most remarkable part is inside the tower. The Dutch national monument register describes the carillon of the Speeltoren as the oldest hand-played carillon in the world: fifteen bells cast by Peter II van den Gheyn in 1595–1597, supplemented by two bells by Melchior de Haze from 1687. The wrought-iron clock and chiming mechanism was made in 1595 by Mr. Roeloff Othszn. of Amsterdam and sets the mounted knights in motion on the hour. You do not need to go inside for that: the carillon and the moving horsemen can simply be enjoyed from the street.

Note the distinction: the Speeltoren is the historic tower, while the Waterlands Museum de Speeltoren is the museum built around it, showing the history of Waterland. We cover that museum, including opening hours and admission, on our museum page.

The Grote or Sint-Nicolaaskerk

At De Zarken 2 stands the Grote or Sint-Nicolaaskerk, after the Speeltoren the largest monument in Monnickendam and Dutch national monument number 30026. Construction began after 1400; the choir was ready around 1450, the west tower was built between roughly 1510 and 1550, and the final bays of the nave were completed in 1644. The result is a very large, three-aisled late-Gothic hall church with a 55-metre tower that rises above the town and the surrounding polder land from far away. The church has been Protestant since 1572.

For visitors the interior is the real reward: a Gothic baptismal font of Bentheim sandstone from the 15th century, a choir screen with rich carving from 1563 and later, a pulpit from 1695, an organ from 1781 with older pipework, a floor of tomb slabs and nine brass chandeliers. The church was restored in 1959–1969 and again in 2005–2009.

The Grote Kerk is still a working church and is open for viewing at certain times, made possible by volunteers. Because opening varies by season and by event, it is best to check the current opening hours in advance on the official website of the Grote Kerk Monnickendam.

Walking through the protected historic centre

The historic centre of Monnickendam is a protected historic townscape under Dutch national heritage law. The designation procedure started in 1968 and became final on 24 July 1970; the protected area covers 28.6 hectares. That status is not a formality but exactly what you see in the street: the old street pattern and the coherent townscape have been preserved rather than replaced.

The town came into being with the damming of the peat stream called the Leek, with a dam and sea dike laid out shortly after 1240 and associated with Premonstratensian monks. The first buildings rose along that sea dike: the Noordeinde and the Zuideinde. Monnickendam is first mentioned in 1288, received toll exemption in 1340 and town rights in 1355. At the junction of Noordeinde, Middendam/Zuideinde and Kerkstraat stood the parish church of which the Speeltoren is the remnant — one of the oldest spots in town.

So walking along Noordeinde, Middendam, Kerkstraat and De Zarken means more or less following the medieval layout of Monnickendam, with the most important monuments along the way. On the Middendam you will also find the Waag, an elongated 17th-century building in the manner of Vingboons, with a covered colonnade on the harbour side and the dam lock close by.

The old town hall of Monnickendam

At Noordeinde 5 stands the old town hall of Monnickendam. This monumental building was erected in 1746 as a private residence for the merchant-regent Albert Timmerman. From 1814 onwards it served as the town hall of Monnickendam. Today the house belongs to the collection of Hendrick de Keyser Monuments, which refers to it as Huis Timmerman.

The old town hall stands out for its richly detailed 18th-century façade. Inside, rococo stucco work, wood carving and historic gilt-leather wall coverings have been preserved. That makes the building a special part of the history of Monnickendam not only for its former civic role, but architecturally as well.

On a walk through the centre it is above all the exterior that is worth studying. Do not assume free daily access to the interior; check with Hendrick de Keyser Monuments whether and when the house is open to visitors.

The harbour and the Gouwzee

Monnickendam lies on the Gouwzee, and the water is never far away. For centuries the town lived from shipping, shipbuilding, fishing and fish smoking, and the harbour with the Langebrug and the dam lock beside the Waag still belongs to the character of the centre. A little further along lies Marina Monnickendam, a yacht harbour with more than five hundred berths that is open all year round.

From the water and the dike you look out across the Gouwzee towards Marken. If you would like to see Monnickendam from the waterside, a trip in the sloop is the finest way to do it.

Rent a sloop in Monnickendam

Discovering Monnickendam on foot

Monnickendam is best explored on foot. The Speeltoren, the Waag, the old town hall, the harbour and the Grote Kerk all lie in or directly around the protected historic centre, close to one another; you do not need a car to see them.

Prefer some explanation? The town guides of Monnickendam offer guided tours of the historic centre by appointment all year round. In addition, from May through August there is a free town walk with a local guide every Friday evening, departing at 7.30 pm from the Speeltoren. Separate conditions apply to tours by appointment — ask about current options and rates. According to the church itself, the Grote Kerk can also be visited with a town guide outside the regular opening times.

Feel free to combine the walk with a terrace or a lunch: most cafés and restaurants are on the same streets and around the harbour. What else there is to do in and around Monnickendam can be found on our pages about activities and restaurants; the Waterlands Museum de Speeltoren is covered on the museum page.

Activities in and around MonnickendamRestaurants and cafés in Monnickendam