Oostmahorn

De Skâns

Oostmahorn is a small village with 70 inhabitants, clamped between the Lauwersmeer, Ezumakeeg and three leisure parks; (Landal) Esonstad, which is a pseudo-historic resort town, (Landal) Suyderoogh Holiday Park, which is situated in the woods, and Skâns, which is the oldest resort on the old dike. On this old dike, there still is an entrance to the gunpowder cellar of 1810, the era of Napoleon. You can reach Oostmahorn from the bed and breakfast Lytshuis Zilver easily by foot or by bike, as it is 6 kilometres away. In both cases, you can make use of the old hiking and bicycle path over the old dike, through the cart hole, via Bantpolder and past the mound village Anjum.

Oostmahorn was once an important village, since it was located right at the Lauwerszee, which had a direct connection with the Wadden Sea. For this reason, Oostmahorn was a key village for shipping. In the 18th century, a port was built for freight transport, together with a customs office and the ferry to Schiermonnikoog. The NZHRM (since 1970 KNRM), who used the Insulinde, the first self-righting lifeboat in the world, settled here a few years later. One of the most famous skippers of the Insulinde was Mees Toxopeus.

In 1960, the closing of the Lauwerszee started. This caused a lot of employment, especially since Oostmahorn served as a working port. Since 1969, when the closure was final and the Lauwerszee was renamed the Lauwersmeer, Oostmahorn has become a lot more quiet. The shipping and fishing industry left for Lauwersoog, the rescue society and customs followed. However, more and more tourists came to the village of Oostmahorn. They enjoyed water sports on the Lauwersmeer, which still features a large marina. Oostmahorn is now a cozy village, frequently visited by tourists in both summer and winter.