Woudsend is a summer village. From May to early September the marina is full, the terraces along the Ee are busy, the windmills are open most Saturdays, and you can hire a boat by the day. The peak weeks are mid-July to mid-August, which coincides with the Dutch school holidays and the Skûtsjesilen racing season — book accommodation well ahead if you plan to come then.
Outside the summer the village is very quiet. Spring and early autumn are pleasant for walking and cycling around the lakes; in winter the village goes to sleep, the marina empties, and only a couple of cafés remain open.