The high Mirnser cliff offers an unobstructed view of the IJsselmeer, the former Zuiderzee. On a clear day, you can see Enkhuizen. The beach near the cliff is a lovely place to spend the day. And the water is perfect for recreation. The first kilometre offshore is shallow, making it safe for swimming and windsurfing. A few fishermen's homes can still be found along the coast. Mirns has had the good fortune of changing very little over the past several hundred years.

People who walk from Rijs to the Mirnser Cliff through the Rijsterbos forest are always amazed by the surprising contrast, as the woods suddenly end and you find yourself standing face to face with the IJsselmeer.

Wind and Poverty

Although the sea has been tamed, the wind continues to have free play. Mirns' elevated location means there is no shelter when the westerly winds blow. And so almost a day does not go by without any wind, a fact the residents of Mirns have learned to live with.

The hamlet, chiefly inhabited by fishermen, small-scale farmers and foresters, used to be greatly impoverished. In fact, until the start of World War II, the residents had to make do without electricity, gas or telephones.

Belfry

In spite of a history of poverty, there was once a church in Mirns. Although the church was torn down in the mid-18th century, the churchyard still exists. The current white wooden belfry with hipped roof dates back to after World War II, when a bomber crashed into the old belfry, destroying it.