Today we woke up early for a long ride to the Zuiderzeemuseum. We arrived just before they opened, and went out on one of the first boats of the day to the small town of Zuiderzee. On arrival, there were several activities that struck our attention. Some people went to go paddle boating around a small area, but a few of us went to go explore the town and experience its rich history.

Zuiderzee was a small village that was closed off from the North Sea in the early 20th century with the construction of a major dam further north. With the fear of the town being forgotten, the land and the homes there were dedicated as a museum to show the lifestyle of those that lived there before the construction of the dam.

The village was truly beautiful, and had an awe-striking view of the water and all of the boats therein. I took particular notice of how all of the boats had either the Netherlands or German flag on the back to show the national origin of the sailors. I considered how great of a distance some Germans in the south of Germany may have to travel to get to any large body of water, and this area might actually be a lot close to them than the northern border of Germany with the Baltic Sea.

After our journey in Zuiderzee, we headed back to the hostel for some rest before heading out to the Markthal. It had dozens of little food spots all over, so everyone was able to find something they wanted.

Overall, it was a very educational day where we learned about the lifestyles in a small village reliant on fishing, blacksmithing, and trade. It’s hard to imagine living life during an era that, for us, was so long ago, but it was great to get a window into what life was like back then in the small, preserved village of Zuiderzee.