Beautiful Zwolle: Walking through the city center

We start our walk at the Sassenpoort. This medieval gatehouse from 1407 reminds the city of the golden times of the Hanseatic League. The cast iron cannon at the front of the gate symbolizes the heavy fighting that took place there. Then we walk past Warehouses and the Klavertje Vier Brewery.

 

This was originally a forge but it later became a brewery. This building is an example of the many old warehouses that line the alley. We then make our way and pass the House with the Heads and the Brother Houses of the Modern Devots.

Zwolle balls

The Zwolle ball house is a historic building from 1845. Sweets are made in the cellar. In the store you can buy, among other things, the Zwolle balls, which are made according to a secret recipe. We then continue our way to Museum de Fundatie, which is located on the Blijmarkt. The building first served as the Palace of Justice but was converted into an art museum in 2004/2005. The museum owns and manages a large collection of visual arts.

Pepperbus

Anyone who thinks of Zwolle cannot ignore the Peperbus. The 75-meter-high Onze Lieve Vrouwe tower, affectionately called the Peperbus by Zwolle residents, can be seen from afar. From above you have a beautiful view of the city and in the church itself the remains of Canon Thomas a Kempis are kept. We walk further and stop at the Women's House Museum. The ground floor of the Women's House has been a museum since 1987. is open to the public by appointment. You walk through special interiors from three centuries, from rich to simple.

History

The places we walk past are packed with history. We continue our walk and arrive at the Hopmanshuis on Rodetorenplein. This building was built in 1663 by order of the Zwolle merchant Claes Cock. 

Then we stop at the city wall. This protected the increasingly wealthy city and also had a water retaining function when Zwolle was in open connection with the former Zuiderzee.

We continue walking and arrive at the Grote Kerk. Just in front of the church is the Glass Angel. This is Archangel Michael who is part of the history of Zwolle. The church itself is best known for the large four-manual Schnitger organ that is located inside the building. 

Continuing walking we arrive at the Karel V house. This house was inhabited by members of the Van Ittersum family from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century. The building also takes its name from this. On the facade is a medallion with an image of Emperor Charles V.

We walk past the Bethlehem Church and Het Refter. This is one of the oldest monuments in the city. We then end our walk again at the Sassenpoort.