Sneek (Netherlands Friesland)

Sneek is a Sneekermeer (lake) cruise port and city in Netherlands' Friesland province, with population around 35,000. The town is best-known for ist Watergate (Waterpoort/town's symbol), scenic canals, watersports activities. Friesland's cities (in brackets their Frisian names)) by population are Leeuwarden (Ljouwert), Drachten, Sneek (Snits), Heerenveen (Hearrenfean), Harlingen (Harns), Dokkum, Franeker (Frjentsjer), Joure (De Jouwer), Wolvega (Wolvegea), Lemmer (De Lemmer). Since late-Middle Ages (5th-15th centuries), Friesland is renowned for the exceptional height of its inhabitants - deemed among the tallest Indo-Europeans.

The lake Sneekermeer itself is highly popular for water sports, including speedboat racing, yacht marinas, sailing boat competitions. Through the lake run Gravinneweg (sand ridge originally used to wade at low water levels) and Princess Margriet Canal. Via Noorder Oudeweg, the lake is connected with Langweerderwielen, and via Houkesloot with Sneek. Southwest of Sneekermeer is the Geeuwpolder nature reserve. Lake's biggest islands are Kolmeersland, Greate Griene and Lytse Griene.

The town was founded in early-10th-century at the crossing site of a dike. It was also positioned on an important artificial waterway (Magna Fossa) dug when Middelzee (lake) silted up. Town's current street pattern follows this dike, and some of the main streets are also named after it (Hemdijk, Oude Dijk, Oosterdijk). The town officially received its city rights in mid-15th-century (1456).

As cruise port, Sneek is included in the regular schedule of one of Europe's largest river cruise companies - Phoenix Reisen. Next table shows the ports sequence of Phoenix Reisen's 10-day "Holland and Belgium" cruisetour itinerary roundtrip from homeport Dusseldorf. The cruisetour is operated by the chartered from Feenstra Rijn Lijn ship Calypso and priced from ~USD 1600 per person (double occupancy cabin rates).