13 Cool Things to See and Do in Zwolle

The city of Zwolle, a Hanseatic city located in the Northeastern Netherlands, is the capital city of the Overjissel province. It is an incredibly lively and vibrant city but is also steeped in history, boasting a medieval city center. The integrity of the historical side of the city is preserved as there are many inner-city walls, towers, and of course, the 600-year-old Sassenpoort.

There is also a plethora of lanes, trees, and canals that wind through the city, making way for architecturally astounding fortresses and old merchant houses. Aside from these historical ties, the city of Zwolle is also considered the culinary capital of the Netherlands, as it is home to the impressive three-Michelin star restaurant, De Librije.

Nearby Zwolle you will find the Weerribben-Wieden National Park (Nationaal Park Weerribben-Wieden) and one of the most beautiful places in the Netherlands – Giethoorn. So, Zwolle can be the perfect destination for a weekend city trip and a good base to explore the Overijssel province.

There are plenty of things to do in Zwolle, and this guide will highlight the top attractions in the city and surrounds. You’ll definitely want to visit Zwolle after immersing yourself in this article and include it in your trip to the Netherlands.

Let’s get exploring!

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How to get to Zwolle

Surprisingly, Zwolle is located more or less at an hour/hour and half from all big cities in the Netherlands, which makes it an easy day trip from Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, or Rotterdam. Zwolle is also very well connected by train with the rest of the Netherlands.

Tip: Read this post about using the public transport in the Netherlands. It’s packed with tips that only a local knows!

For international travel options, check out Omio, where you can also buy train and bus tickets.

Top Things to do in Zwolle

Read further to find out which are the best things to do in Zwolle. On the handy map below I’ve marked all tourist attractions in Zwolle. You can add the map to your Google Maps and use it even if you are offline.

1. Old Fortifications and Sassenpoort

The first of the Zwolle tourist attractions to visit when visiting the city are the old fortifications. These military constructions and buildings are located throughout the city and they tell the story of the historic past of Zwolle. The old ramparts and the remains of the city walls are perfect attractions to see on a day of exploring the city.

At one point there were 23 towers on the city walls and 8 city gates. The only surviving city gate today is the 600-year-old city gatehouse Sassenpoort. It was built in 1409 and is still standing today. The gate, built mainly of trachyte and tuff, is a Rijksmonument and one of the top 100 Dutch heritage sites. Taking a walk through the Sassenpoort is considered one of the top things to do in Zwolle.

In the 15th century Zwolle was an important city, member of the so-called Hanseatic League – a medieval commercial and defensive union, that included cities like Hamburg, Rostock, Dortmund, and Bremen in Germany, Riga in Latvia, Gdansk and Krakow in Poland. In the Netherlands, besides Zwolle, Deventer, Hasselt, Zutphen, Kampen, Elburg, Hattem, Harderwijk, and Duisburg belonged to this medieval confederation.

2. De Librije

De Librije is the best restaurant in the country, and is located in Zwolle, Netherlands. This fine-dining restaurant, housed in a former 18th-century female prison, has consistently been in the top 50 restaurants in the world, and holds an impressive three-Michelin Star rating.

You can try their eight-course menu, and there is also a wine pairing option available for the wine aficionados. It’s definitely an experience as you navigate through the menu that consists of dishes that use authentic regional products. A visit to De Librije is a gastronomic experience that is bound to stimulate the senses and something that will be hard to forget – definitely one of the top places to visit in Zwolle.

To make the experience complete, you can book a room at the Librije’s Hotel, rated by guests as exquisite and fantastic. Click here to see the ratings and read the reviews:

3. De Fundatie Museum

De Fundatie Museum is a visual arts museum that belongs to the Hannema-de Stuers Foundation, along with the Nijenhuis Castle (Kasteel het Nijenhuis) in Heino. The museum is located in a unique egg-shaped building sitting on top of the former Palace of Justice, and is considered one of the top Zwolle attractions because of its interesting architecture and collections.

There are some interesting works on display by top artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Piet Mondrian, and Marc Chagall. You can also end off your visit with a coffee and pastry on the last floor of the building.

Tip: Saturday evening, from 5 pm till 9 pm the entree to the museum is free!

4. Herman Brood Museum

When visiting Zwolle, things to do are in abundance, especially if you enjoy tapping into your cultural side and visiting museums in the cities you travel to. The Herman Brood Museum-Experience is one of the most interesting things to do Zwolle – an ode to a unique character. Herman Brood was many things – a rock’n’roll star, a painter, and a poet from the Netherlands.

The museum houses art pieces as well as many of his personal belongings such as painted guitars, clothing, painting materials, and spraying needles. There is also a shop housed in the museum that sells a range of merchandise as well as pieces of artwork.

6. St Michael’s Church or Grote Kerk

The St. Michael’s Church, also known as Grote Kerk, was built around 1406-1466 during the heyday of the city on the place of an early Romanesque church from 1040. The Grote Kerk is home of the biggest organ in the Netherlands, the Schnitger Organ (Schnitgerorgel), built by the famous German organ builder Arp Schnitger and finished in 1721 after his death by his son – Franz Caspar.

Fun fact: There was a second church in Zwolle named St. Michael’s Church. As the Grote Kerk was converted into a protestant church, a new catholic church devoted to Archangel Michael was built at the end of the 19th century. The church was demolished in 1965.

7. Peperbus Tower

The Peperbus Tower, or Onze Liewe Vrouwetoren as it’s formally known, is a 75-meter-high bell tower that forms a part of the Basilica Onze Lieve Vrouw Tenhemelopname. A visit to the church is free of charge.

The tower offers the best views of the city. Locals from Zwolle are always happy upon returning to the city to see the iconic city landmark – it gives them a sense of being home.

Fun fact: They call this church tower Peperbus, as it looks like pepperbox. Peperbus is the Dutch for pepperbox.

5. Het Vrouwenhuis

The Women’s Home (Het Vrouwenhuis) is one of Zwolle’s most famous landmarks and a small museum. The house was built somewhere before 1680 and since 1742 it served as a home for aged women until 1984. The ground floor of the house shows the grandeur of the 17th-century Zwolle an not much has changed since them. In 2022 the museum went a complete renovation. If you want to visit it, you need to check the Agenda on the museum’s website and enroll for a tour.

8. Van der Velde in de Broeren

One of the most popular things to do in Zwolle is to take a stroll through Van der Velde in de Broeren – a hip and happy book shop that is housed in a historical church building. It is not considered a bookstore but more of an experience as you can browse the ever-changing selection of books and other merchandise.

There are also food and drinks available at Van de Velde in de Broeren and on occasion there are a variety of lectures, exhibits, and concerts within its walls.

Fun fact: Another famous bookstore housed in a church in the Netherlands, is the Dominicanen Bookstore (Boekhandel Dominicanen) in Maastricht.

9. Boat Tour

Exploring the city by means of a boat is a favorite amongst both locals and tourists who visit Zwolle. It’s a great way to see the city as well as the various tourist attractions, as you navigate through the canals.

There are a variety of different tour options available, depending on your needs, but one thing is certain – you will have a great time. There’s even lunch and delicious pastries available for those who get a bit hungry along the way.

You can book a boat tour in Zwolle with Rondvaart Zwolle.

10. Jugendstil architecture

Quite surprisingly, Zwolle is home to some fine examples of Jugendstil architecture. Jugendstil is the Austrian version of the Art Nouveau Architecture movement during the Belle Époque period (1890-1910). Dutch architects G.G. Post, G.B. Broekema and M. Meijerink introduced the new avant-garde style in booming Zwolle at the beginning of the 20th century. You can spot Jugendstil architecture in the city centre, along the Veerallee, and in the so-called Royal district (Prins Hendrikstraat and Koningin Wilhelminastraat).

11. Bonami SpelComputer Museum

The Bonami SpelComputer Museum is a dedicated computer and gaming museum that is housed in the Weighing House in Zwolle. It’s a rather unique museum that is dedicated to the history of the gaming console and there are in excess of 10000 games to be found. Many of these games are still able to be played which is a fun way to spend a rainy day in the city.

12. Dinoland

A visit to Dinoland is one of the top things to do in Zwolle for families with kids. It’s a fun day out for the whole family as there a whole host of indoor and outdoor activities, from playing amongst the dinosaurs to climbing course, mini golf, and even digging up a dinosaur fossil. There’s also a restaurant for when the family gets hungry.

13. Anningahof

The final activity on the list of things to do in Zwolle is a visit to the Annigahof Estate (Landgoed Anningahof). The sculpture park houses a large variety of different sculptures, big and small, that are spread throughout the park. The displays change yearly so it lends itself to multiple visits. It’s a great way to spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of city life and to relax in an artistic and creative environment.

Final Words

With so many things to do in Zwolle, it’s a highly recommend city to visit when travelling to the Netherlands. While it’s not Amsterdam, Rotterdam, or The Hague, Zwolle has its own unique charm and attraction.

So, next time you find yourself in the Netherlands, visit Zwolle and immerse yourself in a different side of the country. There are many unique tourist attractions and of course, the top restaurant in the entire country. Start saving for De Librije, get planning, and pack your bags – destination Zwolle.