What to do in Jirnsum: Top 8 Tips
The Top 8 highlights of Jirnsum:
1. Walk through the old shopping street: the Rijksweg in Jirnsum had more than 35 shops and factories for centuries (until the 1960s). The Rijksweg was the highway between Leeuwarden and the rest of the Netherlands. All traffic - first horse and cart, later cars and trucks - went straight through the village. And all (freight) boats to Leeuwarden passed Jirnsum via the river Boarn - and had to pay taxes here.
Walk from our Mauritius church to grand café-restaurant De 2 Gemeenten and you will get a beautiful view of the old shopping street, a walk of about 1.5 kilometers. Look especially at the beautiful facades of the houses. Many houses have a sign with information about what kind of shop used to be here. Do you see new construction on the water? Then there used to be a dairy factory, a brick factory or the camping site. Fortunately, the director's house of the dairy factory has been preserved. And guess in which building the general practitioner used to live with his village hospital? The walk is a UNESCO World Heritage to be.
2. Boat trip: round trip Jirnsum-Grou-Pikmeer-waterviaduct-Nes-Akkrum-Margriet Canal - Jirnsum! This boat trip is highly recommended. You can do it in four hours and enjoy the beautiful Frisian nature - and sail over the Heerenveen-Leeuwarden highway! You can rent a boat locally at Bauke Visser Watersport in Jirnsum . You can also do it for a whole day and get off in Grou or Akkrum for a bite to eat, a drink and to admire the old village centers. If the weather is expected to be nice, we recommend booking a boat with Bauke.
3. Did you know that Jirnsum is the birthplace of the well-known Frisian flag?! So visit the Frisian Flag Monument at the beginning of the Rijksweg, the central village street, and take a selfie with the fluttering, colorful seven Pompeblêden flag. Then clink and daverje proudly yn it rûn.
4. Jirnsumer Cat Statue , another Selfie moment!!! Residents of Jirnsum are also called 'Jirnsumer cats'. And yes, you see many types and colors of cats walking around in the village. The real story behind the Jirnsumer Cat statue is a bit more violent... you can read that at the cat statue. The statue was designed by sculptor Aagje Pool and unveiled by the late Enneus Heerema, former political leader of the CDA and State Secretary for Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment.
5. Lunch or dinner at De 2 Gemeenten , perhaps the most famous café in Friesland (who hasn't met their partner here at a party or concert?) . Be surprised: the price-quality ratio is excellent. And the service is pleasantly local. Check the websites and Facebook pages; they regularly organize special activities, from darts, theater, bingo, Open Sjoelen Championship to concerts. Our lunch tip: the 12-uurtje (also in vegetarian version, feel free to ask) at De 2 Gemeenten. Also fresh fish of the day and vegetarian options.
6. Cycle or walk the Historic Friesland Picnic Table Route in and around Jirnsum (approx. 20 km). A beautiful tour along village, nature and water. The route starts at picnic table no. 1 at the river De Boarn and ends with table no. 17 at the Sneekermeer. Each table tells the history of Friesland and Jirnsum in words and images. Table no. 1 tells the story of the Battle of the Boarn River in Jirnsum: the last Frisian king, Poppo, lost the battle against the Franks here in the year 734 AD with his army. This meant the end of the once so rich and powerful kingdom of Friesland.
7. Guided tour and climb to the bell tower of the Mauritius Church : see the 600 kilo bell from 1488 (!). Exclusively for guests of the B&B Studioos. Although we hope to open the tower to all residents, their families and guests after the renovation.
8. Swimming in the river Boarn. Take a dip in this river that for centuries was the water connection between the North and the rest of the Netherlands. In the summer you see children and adults jumping and swimming in the water. But also in the winter locals take a cold bath almost daily, or even an ice bath! On January 1st at 12:00 everyone can join the New Year's Dive organized by the Boarn Babes, a group of Jirnsummers who swim in the river all year round.
PS: The Frits Koopcentrum, known in Amsterdam and Maastricht: - the Friese Bazaar of Jirnsum - unfortunately closed last summer 2023. Frits retired. This local Actdion is still missed with its versatile range: from souvenirs, meat from the local butcher, toys & games to dog and cat food, tools, Frisian cheese, free-range eggs and the largest stock of incense in Friesland.
PS 2: Café De Fantast has been sold and turned into an apartment complex. But on the ground floor there will most likely be a catering facility. There is a good chance that 'we' will keep a terrace in the summer with a view of the harbour, swimming jetties and the river De Boarn.
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