Deventer - Hanseatic city full of history, shops & galleries

Deventer is a charming, welcoming city where it's easy to enjoy yourself. Whether you are shopping or just strolling through the city, it embraces you with its historical charm. Deventer is home to numerous attractions, such as the city centre with over 500 monuments and the many arts and culture institutions! And don't forget the city's unique location along the river IJssel. A visit to Deventer is definitely also about relaxing and enjoying yourself by this beautiful river. You can even take the ferry across the river and be in the middle of a nature reserve in no time!

Looking to get some fresh air and enjoy nature? Then head out of the city on foot or hop on a bike and explore the green countryside. The area around Deventer is one of the most popular cycling and walking areas in the Netherlands, with a great variety of landscapes, villages and interesting sights. Why not explore the farming landscape of Salland and enjoy the tastiest local produce along the way? Or if you would rather go for an energetic walk, hike the slopes of the Holterberg or get a breath of fresh air while walking along the river IJssel.

Deventer's location on the river IJssel doesn't just lend itself perfectly to taking long walks in the water meadows. It should come as no surprise that the IJssel is best explored from the water, and Deventer's unique location on this river offers various options for an enjoyable boat trip. Board a luxury saloon boat or smaller sloop and take in the view of Deventer and the natural banks of the IJssel from the water. You can sail upstream to the city of Zutphen or downstream towards the cities of Hattem, Zwolle or Kampen.

The Havenkwartier is a district full of character, combining industrial heritage, creative entrepreneurs, arts, culture, hospitality and housing – all with a functioning inner harbour. The Havenkwartier is synonymous with experimentation, pioneering and space for ideas, which attracts a colourful crew of locals and visitors that make this district vibrant. It is home to many great places such as the intimate and experimental music venue De Perifeer, or the Kunstenlab which gives artists a stage to develop new work and audiences a place to experience adventurous art. Young people (and active older people) can indulge at Burnside café, shop and indoor skate park.

In the area around Deventer, you will find numerous imposing country estates with their accompanying landscaped gardens. But the smaller estates or manor houses, some of which no longer stand, have also left their mark on the landscape. Since 1267, the IJssellandschap Foundation has been managing, developing and protecting around 4,300 hectares (the size of almost 9,000 football pitches) of nature, forest, cultivated land, estates, farms and farmland in and around Deventer. This includes places such as De Ossenwaard, 't Schol, Keizersrande, De Haere, Kranenkamp and Oostermaet. There are several signposted walking routes on these estates. You can get route booklets for these from the VVV Deventer tourist office.