Zwolle has a very charming city centre and is a great destination for a long or short weekend or even a holiday. There's a lot to do here! Stroll along the canals, take a seat at a sidewalk café, go shopping and take in the culture of this beautiful city in the province of Overijssel.
Zwolle was an important Hanseatic city in the middle ages and you can still find traces of its rich history today such as facings, canals and the old city gate.
If you're interested in finding out more about this Hanseatic city's history the Sassenpoort, which dates from the beginning of the 13th century, is a must. The gate was part of the city's defences and is listed as one of the top 100 Dutch monuments on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. The Stedelijk Museum Zwolle is a great place to learn more about the city's cultural history.
The reward for climbing the 200 steps of the old Peperbus, a striking 75 m tall tower, is a fantastic view of the city and the surrounding countryside!
And if that whets your appetite to go out and spend some time exploring the area, the best way of doing so is by bus or car. Spend a day at theme park Avonturenpark Hellendoorn or visit Giethoorn, a beautiful village which is famous for its waterways and can be easily combined with a trip to Nationaal Park Weerribben-Wieden.
Zwolle is pretty small and easy to get around on foot or by bicycle. A tour around the star-shaped canals will also give you an interesting perspective of the city and take you along historic and listed buildings while you sit back and relax.
Once you’re in the Netherlands, Zwolle can be easily reached by public transport a direct train from Rotterdam, for example, will get you to Zwolle in 90 minutes. Alternatively, if you're travelling by car or the town is in close proximity to the A28 and the A50. You can park your car in the city centre but bear in mind that there are different parking zones with different rates.
Zwolle is a great place for a weekend getaway. If you want to discover more of the surroundings, a longer stay is recommended. Discover this lovely city!