Beautiful Zwolle - Enjoy Haerst and Berkum

When you leave the Haersterveer you see Huize Arnichem on your right. The house belonged to the provostship of Sint Lebuïnes from Deventer in the early 1400s. Later the house was inhabited by several generations of the prominent Zwolle family Tobias.

After the death of the last Tobias in 1925, the house came into the possession of the Dominican monastery on the Assendorperstraat. The priest and brothers of the Catholic monastery spent their free time on the estate in the then Protestant Haerst.

The Tomb of Lepejou

If you continue along the road you will come to the Den Doornweg. Along this road in the forest of Tobias lies the Grave of Lepejou. As far as is known, this is the oldest Muslim grave in the Netherlands. Lepejou was a Negro slave from the former Dutch East Indies. According to tradition, he saved the life of Joan Hendrik Tobias, the then resident of Huize Arnichem. In gratitude, the Zwolle resident took Lepejou with him to the Netherlands. Lepejou died on 23 July 1828. Presumably at the age of 23.

Tobias had him buried in the forest point on his estate. The monument consists of two gravestones. One stone with an Arabic text:'The lord has dedicated this grave to his most faithful servant, because he is grateful to him and always thinks of him\\\'. The other with the Latin text:'Lepejou, who is also called Apolloon, was born on the island of Celebes and died on 23 July 1828\\\'.

In 1979 the grave was desecrated. The stones were destroyed and Lepejou's skull was probably stolen. Even in this century Apolloon, Lepejou's nickname, has not been forgotten in the hamlet. Lepejou had a deformed foot. When there is a thunderstorm the people of Haersten still say "Apolloon met de voet giet rond".

The New Leave

Around 1600 the Nieuwe Vecht was dug. A connection between the Overijsselse Vecht and the Almelose Kanaal in the centre of Zwolle. Ships no longer had to sail to Zwolle via the Zwarte Water.
The lock at the Overijsselse Vecht is called the Nieuwe Verlaat. It is a national monument because of the rare oval shape of the lock chamber. The associated lock keeper's house was inhabited by several generations of the Koezen family. Hence the name the Kolk van Koezen, which is part of the Overijsselse Vecht.

Berkum

The walk continues through Berkum. Berkum is now a district of Zwolle. It used to be a hamlet, just like Haerst. The manors Campherbeek and Kranenburg were located here. On the site of the manor Campherbeek there is now a primary school of the same name. The manor Kranenburg was located on the site where the Kranenburg cemetery is now located. Until 1967 Berkum belonged to the municipality of Zwollekerspel.

The last part of the route takes you over the Agnietenberg back to the starting point. You can enjoy the beautiful nature and the rolling landscape along the outskirts of the city of Zwolle.