A visit to Harderwijk

When you cycle in the direction of the Veluwemeer, you will pass through a semi-wild forest. The young Harderbos feels like a primeval forest, with a great diversity of residents, trees, flowers and plants. A swampy area is interrupted by grasslands where flowers provide a vast sea of colour. Birds chirp loudly around the puddles, including the oriole and the kingfisher. The hawk and marsh harrier skim over the fields, looking for a tasty snack, while roe deer and foxes hide in the woods. The lucky cyclist suddenly comes face to face with a wild Scottish Highlander and if you pay attention, you will also see gnawing marks on tree trunks, proof that beavers are nearby and working hard on their burrows. The city of Harderwijk is relatively small with an area of just over 48 square kilometers. Especially the dolphinarium and wellness resort De Zwaluwhoeve are well-known attractions, but the cozy town has more to offer. More than one eighth of this consists of water. That water played a major role in the lives of the inhabitants, both in the past and now, who provided for their livelihood with it. With the reclamation of the IJsselmeer, the focus has now shifted from fishing and fish trade to tourism, industry and services, but the colorful history of the city is still clearly visible. Few city centers have been preserved as well as the historic center of Harderwijk, which is a protected cityscape.