The Rode Steen (Red Stone) is the central square of Hoorn, named for the red paving stones that once marked the spot where public executions took place. The Westfries Museum faces one side of the square; the 17th-century Hoofdtoren harbour tower is a short walk away. The whole area is the historic heart of the city and the obvious starting point for any visit.
The square is lively with cafe terraces in warm weather. The statue of Jan Pieterszoon Coen in the centre is one of the more historically complicated pieces of civic art in the Netherlands.