The main attractions of the area are the traditional Dutch houses. Some would say that Marken has its own style of architecture with quaint and charming houses made entirely out of wood - most of them which tend to rest on small hills. The island is very small so it is difficult to get a good view of the houses. You will find that many of the houses are cluttered together on mounds to protect them from the water, a constant problem, not only in that particular region, but throughout the Netherlands. Before the construction of the dyke, the village was flooded at least three times a year. You can also visit the church, built in 1904, that is located in the heart of the village. Inside the church, you will also find a photo-exhibition of Marken over the past 100 years.

One house of particular interest is that of the Marken lady-resident, Sijtje Boes, who began a business of selling souvenirs in the early 1900s. The house is open for tours and is still a souvenir shop. Another delightful visit is the Marker Museum, where you can see old authentic fisherman’s houses, located in the heart of the Old Village. It displays the real life in the village around the 1930s. Once you’ve had a nice tour around the island, you can catch the ferry that runs to Volendam. Volendam has become quite a famous tourist attraction in the Netherlands and is famous for its old fishing boats and the traditional clothing still worn by some residents – it is a bit like travelling back in time! The traditional Voldendam costume for women has a high, pointed bonnet and is considered to be one of Netherlands’ most traditional costumes. These two quaint villages, located almost side-by-side, provide visitors with some insight into how traditional life passed day by day.