Visit a pair of colorful hamlets that together capture the romance of the Netherlands’ special relationship with the sea – and its past. A short drive into North Holland province brings you to tiny Marken, whose tidy green and white clapboard houses remain little changed since the protective dikes of the Zuider Zee were first constructed in this region by monks in the 13th century. Many of the locals here still wear colorful ancestral costumes, making this something of a foray into ancient days. Continuing on to Volendam, discover another once-upon-a-time fishing village, this one a sea of red roofs and a maze of narrow streets that artists have been drawn to (and drawing in) for ages. On a guided walk, expect to encounter canals aplenty, quaint drawbridges, and a photogenic little harbor laden with authentic fishing vessels and seafood vendors.