It is located in the municipality Heerenveen, about 17 km south of the city of Leeuwarden.

[4] Akkrum started as a terp (artificial living mound) village, and developed into a linear settlement which served as the regional centre.

It started to grow when the main road Leeuwarden-Zwolle and later a railway line were built next to Akkrum.

[6] The polder mill Mellemolen was built in 1849 to drain excess water from the Polslootpolder.

[6] Akkrum has a railway station - Akkrum railway station - with services to Leeuwarden, Zwolle, Amersfoort and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.