Monnickendam is one of the best-preserved harbour towns in the former Zuiderzee region. Kerkstraat forms the historic heart, with seventeenth-century facades and a handful of specialised antique dealers and jewellers. Vintage jewellery can be found here in small, personal shops — often family businesses with a long history of purchasing from private estates along the IJsselmeer.
The town's scale means visitors receive a lot of attention. An afternoon in Monnickendam can be easily combined with Marken or Volendam for those who wish to explore the surrounding area further.