Harlingen (Harns in Frisian) is a small harbour town on the Wadden Sea coast of Friesland, and the main ferry port for the Wadden Islands of Terschelling and Vlieland. The harbour is the heart of the town — fishing boats, historic sailing ships, and the ferry terminal all crowd together along the quays.
The old centre has the handsome brick canal houses and narrow streets you would expect from a Dutch port town that prospered in the 17th century. The Hannemahuis Museum occupies a merchant's house and has changing exhibitions on local history and art. The Zuiderhaven, the southern harbour, is particularly photogenic, lined with restored warehouses and traditional Frisian fishing boats. The Noorderhaven on the north side is quieter and lined with even taller merchants' houses. Two of the more idiosyncratic places to stay anywhere in the Netherlands sit on the harbour: the old lighthouse converted into a single-suite hotel, and the Crane Hotel Faralda, a rotatable harbour crane with three suites.
The best time to visit is during the Tall Ships Race or the Harlingen Fleet Days (Vlootdagen) in spring, when the harbour fills with historic vessels. Otherwise, Harlingen is a pleasant, unhurried stop on a trip through Friesland, and the obvious overnight base before catching the morning ferry to the islands.