A few years ago, we stayed in Amsterdam before taking a river cruise down the Rhine River. Friends of ours recommended a tour of Volendam and Marken. Volendam is a fishermen's village located on the Ijsselmeer (Lake Ijssel) and it has a great seaside feel to it, reminding me of some of the towns on the Jersey Shore. Marken has a much different feel to it. It is well known for characteristic wooden houses, is less crowded and commercial, and has a tranquil atmosphere.
One can reach Marken by either bus or ferry. We chose the ferry and enjoyed a beautiful trip. As we left Volendam’s enclosed harbor onto the Ijsselmeer, I was amazed at how many sailboats were out. I am no stranger to seaside locations, but I have never seen so many boats. This photo shows just a few of the sailboats that were out. All of the sailboats had white sails and the lone red sails of this sailboat stood out from the rest.