At Zoutkamp’s old inner harbor, the Fishing Museum is housed in a former monumental buoy depot belonging to Rijkswaterstaat. Today, the inner harbor serves as a marina. The history of fishing and the harbor’s present-day use therefore come together in one place. Zoutkamp also lies at the foot of Lauwersmeer National Park; water and landscape are among the most important considerations when planning a trip.

Fishing and Local History

A particularly vivid glimpse into life in the past can be found at Siegerlida’s Hoeske: the faithfully reconstructed fishermen’s cottage is furnished as it would have been around 1900 and shows how people used to live and work. The museum also has a tourist information point. It provides information about cycling and walking routes, as well as sights in the surrounding area.

Zoutkamp’s streetscape also tells the story of its past. The “Soltecampe” fortress rampart, built by Spanish soldiers in 1576, forms the basis of today’s street layout. The Oude Kerk was built in 1836 on the fortress’s northeastern bastion. Zoutkamp’s oldest little house stands at the corner of Vissersstraat and Kerkstraat. These two streets still preserve the atmosphere of the old village, with their narrow lanes and small houses.

At the end of Reitdiepskade is a row of colorful houses known as Kleurige huisjes Zoutkamp. A shrimp auction is held in the associated warehouses. Another distinctive lane is Beereboomstraat: it is the only lane in Zoutkamp that you can still walk through. Together, these places reveal different sides of the old fishing village, showing that its history is not confined to a single building.

On Foot and in the Landscape

The Dorpswandeling Zoutkamp (Zoutkamp Village Walk) starts and ends at the Fishing Museum. The old outer dike runs along Reitdiepskade and continues as far as the town. These local landmarks can be complemented by a look at the surrounding waterways: the Lauwers, Reitdiep and Hunsingokanaal meet at Zoutkamperril.

The Haven tot haven route (Harbor-to-Harbor Route) passes old dikes and Lauwersmeer, and crosses the wide natural landscape of Lauwersmeer National Park. It connects the fishing village of Zoutkamp with the harbor at Lauwersoog and the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site. This gives you different options for planning your visit: a walk that starts and ends at the museum, and a route that focuses on dikes, water and landscape.

In the outer harbor, Kaap Garmt is a replica of the beacon on Engelsmanplaat. From this viewpoint, you can see across Zoutkamperril and Lauwersmeer. The Kalkoven (lime kiln) also tells the story of an earlier use of local resources: the replica commemorates a kiln in which shells were fired to produce lime for building materials.

Trips and Seasonal Events

The Fishing Museum regularly organizes special trips on the historic fishing vessels ZK 4 Albatros and ZK 31 Neptunus. They travel along the Reitdiep, Lauwersmeer and the Wadden Sea. Another option with a clearly defined season is the Beurtvaarten (scheduled boat trips) on the ZK4: from May to September, the vessel travels from Zoutkamp to Groningen on Saturdays and from Groningen to Zoutkamp on Sundays. A taxi takes participants back to the starting point.

Every year at Pentecost, the entire fishing fleet returns to welcome Zoutkamp’s new Shrimp Queen. If a trip or this event is important to your travel plans, check the relevant dates and schedule in advance. This will help you fit the seasonal offerings into your stay alongside Zoutkamp’s historic sites and local routes.

Discover more destinations: Westernieland, Wehe-Den Hoorn, Kloosterburen, Zuurdijk, Ulrum, Eenrum, Warfhuizen, Pieterburen

For the overview of the wider area: De Marne.