Summer in Leeuwarden

Whether you want to sit in the sun or seek shade, you will always find the perfect spot in Leeuwarden. Enjoy a cold beer or refreshing iced tea at the Dikke van Dale on the water - yes, you read that right, on the water. While sitting on the terrace boat in the sunshine, you can wave to everyone passing by. With good-humoured staff and cheerful guests, the atmosphere in Leeuwarden in summer is at its best. So pick a spot, order a drink and enjoy!

Would you like to have dinner, too? Then make a reservation at Proefverlof in Blokhuispoort, Leeuwarden's old prison! The large and sunny terrace is the place to be. Enjoy three or four courses and get advice on the best wines to accompany your dishes. Psst, if you book between 5:00 pm and 5:30 pm, you will get early bird discount.

What could be better than settling down in a hidden courtyard on a dim, sultry summer evening? Enjoy a snack, a drink, good food and good company. Discover the cosiest courtyard gardens in Leeuwarden, but will you keep it to yourself?

For a great beach day, you don't necessarily have to go to the coast. In the heart of Leeuwarden, there is Stadsstrand (city beach)! The place to SUP, canoe or enjoy an ice-cold drink with your bare feet in the sand. Hire a tandem SUP and cool off together on Leeuwarden's canals. Need more peace and quiet? Then paddle quietly from Stadsstrand through the Potmarge, where you can enjoy frog concerts and birds singing.

Feel like a bit more action? Then go for a clean-up canoe at the Sup Skool! You can rent a canoe for a reduced fee. You fill the bucket provided with litter from the water. This way you do something nice for yourself and something kind for the planet!

You can spend your entire city break in the city, but if you have the time, how much fun would it be to explore Friesland? Leeuwarden is one of the hidden gems of the Netherlands, but Friesland has many more hidden gems. Starting in Leeuwarden, after a short car journey and a ferry crossing, you can be on the vast beaches of the Wadden Islands within a few hours. Prefer to take your bike? From the bustling city centre, you can cycle to the serenity of the Frisian countryside within 15 minutes.

After all that supping, cycling, exploring, boating and walking, it is, of course, time for a well-deserved ice-cream! Whether you’re going for real Italian gelato from 'Laffi' or artisanal ice-cream at PUUR, the ice-cream in Leeuwarden will put a smile on the face of everyone, young and old!