Tips for Leeuwarden mini-bus and coach tourism

Useful tips for Leeuwarden bus groups with ‘what to see’ and ‘what to do’ items and  ‘bus- friendly’ or must see tourist sites in Leeuwarden. Check our list of attractions before planning your bus tour with a stop or departure in Leeuwarden. Let us know if your favourite attraction or ‘bus-stop’ is not there and you think we should add it to our list of Leeuwarden highlights.

What to see during your tour in Leeuwarden with a rented coach with driver?

If you want to make a bus tour through the city of Leeuwarden we recommend the following sights:

Arriva Touring

VIP Bus from Arriva Touring more room for the legs

Palace of Justice

The Palace of Justice is situated in Leeuwarden. This building dates from 1851 and was designed by Thomas Adrian Roman. The building was originally built for the provincial court. The monumental building has been closed in recent months due to renovations, but has been reopened in January. The court offers those interested the opportunity to visit the building. The goal is to increase knowledge about the law and show what the court stands for.

Aqua Zoo Friesland

The Aqua Zoo Friesland is certainly a must for animal lovers and children. In this zoo you can explore different areas and islands and walk between the animals. There are more than a hundred species of animals to see! The park consists of three areas, Naturama, Nature Trail 1 and Nature Trail 2. Naturama is the indoor part of the park, and here are the amphibians, reptiles and insects. At the Nature Trails you can walk through different areas and you will come across many species of animals.

Dolfinarium

Dolfinarium credit: Loek Zanders CC BY-ND 2.0

Nightlife in Leeuwarden

The nightlife in Leeuwarden is very extensive and there is lots to do. Because there are a high number of students living in the city, there is something to do every night. The city has something for everyone; from relaxing in a cocktail bar to discos and clubs. In Doelensteeg there are several pubs and it is always crowded. The biggest disco in Leeuwarden is Club Red on Ruiterskwartier. On Ruiterskwartier are also some small clubs where it is very cozy.

Kimberly

Kimberly, Nieuwe Oosterstraat Leeuwarden. credit: FaceMePLS CC BY 2.0

Distillery Boomsma Berenburg

In this distillery the Old Frisian ‘kruidenbitter’ is brewed. This drink has been on the market for 125, and nowadays Boomsma offers a large selection of national and international drinks. Boomsma Distillery is an independent family business, unlike most other distilleries. Boomsma The Museum is located in the center of Leeuwarden. Here you will learn about the origins of Boomsma Beerenburger, and you can see step by step how this traditional drink is brewed. After the tour you have the opportunity to try different drinks from the Boomsma selection. 

Overflow · Second Row

Overflow · Second Row credit: Rob Ireton CC BY 2.0

About tourism and travels in Friesland

Friesland is a province in the north of the country. The province lies to the left of the province of Groningen. The province borders the Ijsselmeer on the left and the Wadden Sea in the north. The province has about 650,000 inhabitants and covers an area of 5,750.00 km ². The capital and most populous city of the province Friesland is the city Leeuwarden. The next two largest cities in the province of Friesland, are the cities Sneek and Harlingen. The Wadden islands Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog also belong to the province. The province is known as Friesland in the Netherlands, however, the real official name of the province is the Frisian ‘Fryslân’.

Esonstad

Esonstad credit: Hans Splinter CC BY-ND 2.0

Tours in Friesland

The province Friesland has various transportation options. The province has about 25 stations which makes travel in the province easy. Also travelling inland from Friesland is very easy, since there are many different routes from this province to go inland. For example you can travel from Leeuwarden to Flushing with an intercity. Within the province, the trains are transported by the company Arriva. The intercity trains are transported by the NS. The bus transport in the province of Friesland is controlled by Arriva. There are many different bus routes, which makes travelling in the province easy. If you want to travel to the Wadden Islands, you must first take the train or bus to the station Harlingen Harbour. From here there are boats to the islands. You can buy tickets for the boat at the harbour, but you can also buy them online so you are assured of a place on the boat. You can do this on the website www.wpd.nl .

Waterpoort

Waterpoort credit: Denis Janssen CC BY-SA 2.5

Culture

For those who are travelling to Friesland for culture, are definitely in the right place. There are many museums, churches and art galleries to visit in the province. In Friesland is the world famous Jopie Huisman Museum and Planetarium Eise Eisinge. This planetarium is the oldest functioning planetarium in the world. Other attractions are the famous museums like the Fries Museum in Leeuwarden, the Frisian Maritime Museum in Sneek and the Museum Belvédère Heerenveen.

Fries Museum

Fries Museum credit: Michele Ahin CC BY-SA 2.0

Excursions and day trips

There are several companies that arrange day trips through the city of Leeuwarden. You can make a city walk in Leeuwarden with Groeten uit Leeuwarden. With this route you pass the city center, the canals, the museum Nieuwesteeg, the main shopping street Zaailand, de Lange Marktstraat (also known as the Manhattan of Leeuwarden’ due to the tall buildings) and many more. At Holland Tour Guides you can also book various tours through the city, including a canal cruise or a photo scavenger hunt.

Nature

Friesland also has a lot to offer in the field of nature. The province has up to 4 National Parks. The National Park De Alde Feanen is located in the heart of the province, and hosts a very swampy nature. The Schiermonnikoog National Park is a national park where the entire Wadden Island is a part of. Here, every year thousands of tourists come to enjoy the nature and the sea. The Lauwersmeer National Park lies at the border of Friesland and Groningen. This National Park has something for every nature lover. The characteristics of this National Park are the waters, forests, sandbanks and grasslands.

The fourth National Park in the province is the National Park Drents-Friese Wold. This National Park is a six thousand acre National Park on the border of Drenthe. This national park offers many different natural landscapes such as forests, heath, lands, shifting sands and stream valleys.

Deer in the park

Deer in the park credit: Sander Wapstra CC BY 2.0

Friesland Active

The province has much more to offer than just nature and culture. The province is very well known for the Elfstedentocht. Each year when it starts to freeze the suspension will rise, will the tour be held this year or not?

Sailing

Another recommendation in Friesland is to rent a boat on one of the Frisian lakes or on the IJsselmeer and make your own boat trip to the Wadden Islands.

Walking the ‘Wad’

For the adventurous tourist who is not afraid of wet feet are the mudflats: at low tide a tour is given by an experienced tour guide on the dried sea lands. 

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More about Leeuwarden

Would you like to organize a bus tour to see all these beautiful highlights? Request quotes and compare the different bus and coach hire companies:

Bus tours in Leeuwarden
Coach hire in Leeuwarden