Sneek

With some 34,000 inhabitants (2021), Sneek is not a particularly large city. It is well-known in the Netherlands however, as it is one of the eleven cities in the famous Elfstedentocht and also for the Sneekweek, a major water sports event organized here every year.

Tourist Information Office Sneek (VVV), ☏ +31 515 750678. Mon-Fri 10:00-16:00, in high season till 17:00; Sat 11:00-14:00. The VVV office provides booking services for lodging and boat rents. The helpful staff can give all kinds of information regarding sights in and around the city and even the broader lake district.

Unless you're coming from nearby, the A7 is likely your way by road into town. It connects Sneek to Groningen and the German border and (via the Afsluitdijk, a large causeway that separates the IJsselmeer from the North Sea) to Zaandam and all the major destinations in the Western Netherlands.

The N354 is the major provincial road, connecting Sneek to the nearby destinations of Leeuwarden, Grou and Lemmer. Sneek has a ring road, which makes it easier to navigate from anywhere in the city to either of the main access roads.

There are trains to Leeuwarden on average every 20 minutes, operated by Arriva (€4.30, 20 minutes). From there, you can transfer on trains to other major destinations. Buses in this region are also operated by Arriva and connect Sneek to most of the towns in the region.

As those travelling by boat will find, Sneek is very reachable over water. The Zwette is the waterway connecting Sneek to Leeuwarden, the Franekervaart connects the city to Franeker and the Houkesloot to the larger Prinses Margrietkanaal, a major shipping canal leading from Lemmer to Groningen city, and beyond that to the Sneekermeer. Lastly, the Geeuw is your waterway into Sneek when coming from IJlst.