Glamping rental Akkrum - 1 glamping

A Village Named by Quarreling Giants: Welcome to Akkrum

Tucked into the green heart of the Dutch province of Friesland, Akkrum is a place where folklore, waterways, and centuries of history intersect in the most unexpected ways. According to local legend, the village owes its name to two mythical giants, Kromme Knilles and Manke Meine, who were digging a canal around 1400 and got into a heated argument. Knilles looked back at his crooked work and exclaimed "Ach, krom!" ("Oh, crooked!"), and local farmers overhead liked the sound of it so much they named their settlement Akkrum. A sculpture of the two giants now stands proudly by the waterfront, and the village still celebrates the story each year in May at the Reuzedei ("Giant Day") festival.

For travelers looking for a holiday rental that puts them right in the middle of a genuinely Dutch experience far from overcrowded tourist circuits, Akkrum delivers in surprising ways. Book a holiday rental here and you will find yourself at the crossroads of water, nature, and community life in a region that most international visitors have yet to discover.

Where Exactly Is Akkrum, and How Do You Get There?

Akkrum is a village of approximately 3,400 inhabitants in the municipality of Heerenveen, about 17 kilometres south of the Frisian capital Leeuwarden. It sits directly along the A32 motorway and the railway line, giving it excellent connections to the rest of the Netherlands. From Akkrum railway station, direct trains run to Leeuwarden, Zwolle, Amersfoort, and even Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, making it remarkably accessible for an international visitor arriving by air.

The village is located between the Sneekermeer lake to the west and the Pikmeer lake to the north, and sits at the very beginning of the famous Turfroute, a historic boating route that winds through Southeast Friesland, Drenthe, and Overijssel along waterways originally dug in the 16th century to transport peat. It is also close to De Alde Feanen National Park, a 2,000-hectare wetland with over 450 plant species and 100 nesting bird species, including the white-tailed eagle.

Why Akkrum Is an Unexpectedly Perfect Base for Your Holiday

There are several compelling reasons why booking a holiday rental in Akkrum is a smart choice for your next trip to the Netherlands:

• Genuine Frisian village life: Akkrum is a real, working village with cosy bars, restaurants, charming shops, and a thriving social life. Nowhere is the view disturbed by industry or urban hustle; instead, you will see vast meadows, flowering verges, traditional farms, and beautiful natural areas.
• Superb water access: Situated between two major Frisian lakes and at the start of the Turfroute, Akkrum is a true watersports village. You can rent a kayak, paddleboard, or sloop and set off straight from the village to explore an intricate network of waterways.
• Easy to reach, hard to leave: With its own railway station, direct motorway access, and train connections to Schiphol Airport, Akkrum is easy to reach from the UK, Germany, Belgium, France, and beyond. Yet once you arrive, the peaceful setting will make you want to stay far longer than planned.
• A gateway to nature: De Alde Feanen National Park is practically on your doorstep, offering walking trails, cycling routes, and boat excursions through one of the largest marsh areas in Western Europe.
• Off the beaten tourist track: Unlike Amsterdam or the crowded Randstad, Akkrum offers a deeply authentic Dutch experience where you will rub shoulders with locals rather than bus tours.

The Surprising Highlights of Akkrum

Coopersburg: An American Dream That Came Home

One of the most eye-catching buildings in Akkrum is Coopersburg, a stately, symmetrical complex stretching over 100 metres along the Ljouwerterdyk. It was built around 1900 and funded by Folkert Harmens Kuipers, born in Akkrum in 1843, who emigrated to the United States at the age of 22. He changed his name to Frank Cooper and built a fortune as co-owner of the Siegel and Cooper department store empire in Chicago and New York. During one of his visits home, he was struck by the poverty among elderly Akkrum residents and established a foundation to provide free housing and a weekly allowance for the needy, regardless of their religion. The building, designed by architect Folkert Hoekstra, still stands beautifully preserved today. Behind it lies a remarkable Art Nouveau mausoleum where Cooper and his wife are buried. The gardens and the mausoleum are publicly accessible and well worth a visit.

The Terptsjerke: Standing on Ancient Ground

Akkrum originally grew as a terp village, built on an artificial mound to stay above floodwaters. On the highest point of the Akkrum terp sits the Terptsjerke, a reformed church built in 1759 to replace a much older medieval church. Its tower was added in 1882 and houses a late 17th-century bell that may have belonged to the original church. The facade stone above the entrance records that a 17-year-old local nobleman, Augustinus Lycklama a Nijeholt, laid the first stone. It is a quietly atmospheric place that connects you to centuries of Frisian life.

The Klokkenstoel of Nes

In the neighbouring hamlet of Nes, often referred to as Akkrum-Nes, you will find a klokkenstoel (bell chair), a uniquely Frisian wooden bell tower. This one stands in an atmospheric enclosed cemetery on a remarkably high mound. The site was once the cemetery of the Nesserklooster, a Commandery of the Teutonic Order founded in 1228 and abolished in 1580. It is a hauntingly beautiful and little-known spot that most visitors never find.

Mellemolen: The Ghost Mill

The Mellemolen is a hollow post mill (spinnenkopmolen) originally built in 1849 to drain the Polslootpolder near Akkrum. Formerly known as the "Spookmolen" (Ghost Mill), it was toppled by a storm in 1972 and later restored. In 2003-2004, the entire mill was relocated about two kilometres to its current position along Het Deel. It is a listed national monument (Rijksmonument) and can be visited by appointment.

Five Things to Do in Akkrum That You Will Not Find in Most Guidebooks

1. Follow the Turfroute by water: Rent a small boat in Akkrum and explore the Turfroute, a historic boating route along 16th-century peat transport canals. The short loop is about 83 kilometres with seven locks and 30 bridges, passing through charming villages like Aldeboarn and Gorredijk. You can even operate some of the small bridges yourself.
2. Cycle the De Alde Feanen Villages Route: This cycling route takes you through the authentic villages surrounding De Alde Feanen National Park, including Eernewoude, Warten, Grou, and Akkrum. Each village has its own cultural history, and you can stop along the way for art routes, old churches, and the quirky Mineralogisch Museum in a converted farm barn.
3. Visit the Coopersburg Mausoleum: Most people admire the Coopersburg building from the outside, but the real hidden gem is the Art Nouveau mausoleum in the garden behind it. A stained-glass window shows the intertwined initials of Cooper and his first wife, De Graaff, and at certain times of day, sunlight projects the monogram as a shadow onto their tombs.
4. Seek out the three spider-head windmills of Goengahuizen: Just a short cycle from Akkrum, the tiny hamlet of Goengahuizen has three rare 19th-century spider-head windmills, each with its own name: Jansmolen, De Modderige Bol, and Het Heechhiem. These pyramid-shaped wooden mills are unique to Friesland and are beautifully maintained.
5. Experience the Reuzedei festival: If you can time your visit to Akkrum in May, the annual Reuzedei brings the village to life with a sustainability market, solar boat races on the river Boorne, live music along the waterfront, and a keynote lecture in the Terptsjerke. It is an annual tradition that draws locals and visitors alike.

Friesland's Second Language and Living Culture

Akkrum is in the province of Friesland, which has its own language: Frisian (Frysk). This is not a dialect but a fully recognised official language of the Netherlands, closely related to English. You will see bilingual street signs, hear Frisian spoken in shops and cafes, and notice place names written in both Dutch and Frisian. For English-speaking visitors, this adds a fascinating cultural layer to a stay here. Locals are friendly and almost always speak excellent English and Dutch as well.

Practical Notes for International Visitors

• Getting there: Fly into Amsterdam Schiphol and take a direct train to Akkrum (approximately 2 hours). From Germany, the A32 motorway provides a direct driving route. Akkrum also has a railway station with regular services.
• Best time to visit: Spring through early autumn (April to October) is ideal for cycling, water sports, and enjoying the outdoors. The Reuzedei festival takes place in May. Winter has its own charm, with frost-covered meadows and the chance to experience Friesland's legendary ice-skating culture if conditions allow.
• Nearby cities worth a day trip: Leeuwarden (17 km), the Frisian capital and 2018 European Capital of Culture; Sneek, known for its historic Waterpoort gate and the Sneekweek sailing regatta; and Heerenveen, home to the Thialf ice-skating stadium.
• Language: Dutch and Frisian are both spoken. English is widely understood. German and French visitors will also find it easy to communicate.

Your Next Great Escape Starts in Akkrum

Akkrum is one of those places that rewards the curious traveller: a village with a giant legend baked into its very name, a rags-to-riches philanthropist story written into its architecture, and a network of waterways and nature reserves right at its doorstep. It is the kind of destination where a weekend trip can turn into a lifelong memory. Book a holiday rental in Akkrum now and experience a side of the Netherlands that most visitors never get to see.