Taste of culture in the surroundings of Molecaten Park De Agnietenberg

Visit the Hanseatic city of Zwolle

You will find beautiful museums and historical market squares in the Hanseatic cities along the IJssel: Kampen, Hasselt, Zwolle, Hattem, Deventer, Zutphen and Doesburg.

Museums & sights

  • Museum de Fundatie in Zwolle: the museum owns and manages an extensive collection of visual arts. The collection and exhibitions can be seen at two locations: Kasteel het Nijenhuis with sculpture garden near Heino and Museum de Fundatie in Zwolle.
  • Sassenpoort in Zwolle: a true icon of Zwolle, one of the eye-catchers of the city. You can visit the city gate from 1409 and take a guided tour. The tour consists of historical information and exciting stories.
  • In Hattem, visit the Nederlands Bakkerijmuseum ‘Het Warme Land’, the Anton Pieck Museum, the Voerman Stadsmuseum and the Bonbon Atelier A3.
  • Paleis Het Loo in Apeldoorn: former royal palace and nowadays a national museum. Also fun for children; the special children's audio tour!
  • Museum Staphorst in Staphorst: to discover the culture-rich past and present with its colourful farms, the traditional costumes and the many traditions and customs.
  • Boerderijmuseum de Bovenstreek in Oldebroek: housed in a listed farm dating from 1753. Visitors to the museum can learn about farming life of over a hundred years ago. There is also a very exclusive and special collection of traditional costumes and two exhibitions of prams from grandma's time and toys from times gone by.
  • Veluws Museum Hagedoorns Plaatse in Epe: the regional museum manages a regional collection and organises temporary exhibitions.
  • Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo: the national museum for modern and contemporary art, located in the Hoge Veluwe National Park, with the second largest Van Gogh collection in the world: almost 90 paintings and over 180 drawings. In addition, the museum has one of Europe's largest sculpture gardens with over 160 sculptures by iconic artists.
  • Visit the centuries-old castles and country estates on the Veluwe; Kasteel en park Cannenburch in Vaassen and Landgoed Zwaluwenburg in ’t Harde.

Towns & villages

You will find cosiness and cultural history in the Hanseatic city Zwolle, the fortified town Hattem or in one of the other Hanseatic cities along the IJssel or in the former Zuiderzee town Elburg.
 

  • Zwolle: a dynamic Hanseatic city with a lively town centre. The centre is certainly worth a visit with its Sassenpoort, climb the Peperbus and visit the most beautiful bookstore in the Netherlands, in a church, Waanders in de Broeren.
  • Kampen: an age-old Hanseatic city with an exceptionally lively character. In fact, it is an open-air museum. The magnificent skyline along the river IJssel, the City Bridge with golden wheels, the impressive gates and the historical inner city with hundreds of monuments give the city an authentic appearance.
  • Giethoorn: a characteristic village with narrow canals, small bridges, picturesque farms and beautiful gardens. Discover it by whisper boat, on foot or by bicycle.
  • Elburg: beautifully situated at the Veluwe border lakes, the centuries old town of Elburg is situated. One of the most attractive Hanseatic cities in the Netherlands. Formerly a bustling fishing town by the Zuiderzee. Today, it is an ultimate starting point for tourists and lovers of culture and water sports.
  • Deventer: centuries-old Hanseatic city, situated on the river IJssel, with a beautiful history. And you can see it everywhere in the city! Magnificent monuments, beautiful squares, old museums, but also plenty of cosiness for those who like to shop or enjoy a pleasant café or restaurant.