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* From the end of March, repairs will take place on the fountain of Sneek. It is not yet known how long these repairs will take. *
About the city walk
The Sneeker Waterpoort, the Sneek Week, Grutte Pier... Sneek is known for many things. The Waterpoort (water gate) is the symbol of the city and of the Sneeker skûtsje, a traditional Frisian sailing barge. Every year, these skûtsjes are used in highly exciting sailing races against other historical skûtsjes. Sneek is the third largest city of Friesland and attracts people who like to celebrate life. This 30-minute walk takes you along the most beautiful parts of Sneek, and afterwards you can relax at one of the lovely café terraces. Because that is Sneek at its best.
Easy navigation?
View the route in Google Maps
About the fountain
On …
* From the end of March, repairs will take place on the fountain of Sneek. It is not yet known how long these repairs will take. *
About the city walk
The Sneeker Waterpoort, the Sneek Week, Grutte Pier... Sneek is known for many things. The Waterpoort (water gate) is the symbol of the city and of the Sneeker skûtsje, a traditional Frisian sailing barge. Every year, these skûtsjes are used in highly exciting sailing races against other historical skûtsjes. Sneek is the third largest city of Friesland and attracts people who like to celebrate life. This 30-minute walk takes you along the most beautiful parts of Sneek, and afterwards you can relax at one of the lovely café terraces. Because that is Sneek at its best.
Easy navigation?
View the route in Google Maps
About the fountain
On a golden ball in the middle of the water stands a man holding a Horn of Plenty. The sculpture refers to Fortuna, the goddess of fortune and the patron goddess of cities, families and people. The overflowing horn symbolises the material prosperity of the lucky ones. The golden ball, however, rotates ceaselessly on its axis, a reference to the water as an unpredictable force – just like the chance of good fortune. The bounty that happens to wash over us at one moment may be taken away by fate, as quickly as it came. You only have to look at the history of Sneek.
A man with a Horn of Plenty stands on a golden ball in the middle of the water.
The Waterpoort in Sneek is a water gate, a gate in a defensive wall that connects a city to a waterway. In the 15th and 16th century, a defensive wall had been built around Sneek.
On a raised mound in the centre of Sneek, we find the Great (Martini) church. Almost 1000 years old and with an eventful history of collapse, austerity and redevelopment. Could it be because the Frisian freedom fighter 'Grutte Pier' is buried here?
In the heart of the atmospheric city of Sneek you will find the equally atmospheric Theater Sneek.
From ripping guitars to pounding beats and disco-boomers to experimental newcomers, we take every music lover into account and offer visitors a unique evening out for visitors from all over Friesland and the rest of the country.
The City Hall of Sneek was built around 1478. The building was actually constructed on the foundations of two Frisians strongholds: a Medieval, defensible, residential tower. The City Hall was subsequently extended and altered many times.
The Frisian Maritime Museum focuses on the history of Frisian shipping.
In Sneek, you will find the Tourist Information at the Fries Scheepvaartmuseum. Here, a team of enthusiastic volunteers is ready to provide you with all the information you need!
This statue known as ‘Lapkepoep and Frisian farmer's wife’ on the Wijde Burgstraat is a gift from C&A. German textile traders Clemens and August Brenninkmeijer (the founders of C&A) opened their very first store in Sneek in 1841.
A man with a Horn of Plenty stands on a golden ball in the middle of the water.
A man with a Horn of Plenty stands on a golden ball in the middle of the water.
The start of this route is at the Fountain of Fortuna. A man standing on a golden ball in the middle of the canal, a horn of plenty in his hands. He symbolizes the wealth that Sneek has always dared to dream of, and that Sneek has also known.
Behind the fountain you will see the Sneeker Waterpoort (Water Gate of Sneek). An impressive structure, with two elegant towers. The Water Gate was built around 1492 to block the entrance to the city over the water. Sneek used to have five such gates, but this is the only one left. Cross the water via the gate and follow Waterpoortgracht to Martiniplein. Here, you will find the Martinikerk (St. Martin’s Church), with its beautiful wooden belfry. It is said that within the walls of the church, the body of the Frisian hero Grutte Pier, who died in Sneek, was buried. Grutte Pier was a warlord who dreamed of freedom and rebelled against the Hollanders. After a life as a warrior, he settled in Sneek, where he died in 1520.
Walk around the church via the Oude Kerkhof to the Bulwark. This area used to be an extension of the defensive wall and is now one of the few remnants of the fortifications of Sneek. Follow Kerksteeg and turn right, into Nauwe Noorderhorne. This is a small street with nice shops selling curiosa. It leads to Marktstraat, where you can admire the old town hall of Sneek with its beautifully decorated steps. The helmet of Frisian rebel leader Grutte Pier, who died in Sneek in 1520, is kept in the town hall. (NB: the town hall is not open to the public)
Turn right twice at the end of Marktstraat, to get to Leeuwenburg and then Galigastraat, a street where you’ll find many different kinds of shops. Turn left on Oude Koemarkt to follow the road until you reach the canal. Turn left again and you will see the fountain from the back. At the special bakery on the corner, we turn left again. Now follow Grootzand all the way to the end, where it joins Schaapmarktplein, which is very lively in summer, and Nauwe Burgstraat, at the end of which we turn right, into Wijde Burgstraat. Here you can see the statue of Lapkepoep and a Frisian female farmer. Lapkepoep is Frisian for textile merchant. The statue was a gift from retail clothing store C&A. The brave brothers Clemens and August were only young dreamers in their early 20s when they opened the very first C&A shop in Sneek in 1841.
Walk further, along Oosterdijk, with the more well-known shops on both sides. At the end, we turn right, and on the Jousterpijp we turn right again, into Kleinzand. On this street you will find the distillery Weduwe Joustra. Here, the sixth generation of the Joustra family continue the tradition of making the alcoholic drink Beerenburg, which the widow Joustra started in 1864. A little further down the road, you will find the Frisian Maritime Museum (Scheepvaartmuseum), where you can learn all about the history of Sneek, the Frisian shipping trade and the background of Skûtsjesilen.
Now turn left and follow Singel, where halfway you will encounter the beautiful Sint Martinus church. Churches in Friesland are often sober in design, but not this church. It is definitely worth to take a look inside. The gorgeous decorations inside make this church stand out in Friesland.
If you walk to the end of Singel, you will arrive where you started. But we recommend that you head into the city centre for a drink or a snack at one of the café terraces. All restaurants and cafés in Sneek can be found here.
A man with a Horn of Plenty stands on a golden ball in the middle of the water.
