Holiday apartment in Zutphen: Hanseatic history and water

Zutphen is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands and is also a Hanseatic city. More than 900 listed monuments shape the cityscape, including churches, hofjes, city gates and merchant houses. Between the city’s history, waterways and landscapes around the city, a varied picture emerges that can be experienced both on short routes and on longer excursions into the Berkelstreek.

Culture

Zutphen’s museums are located in the former city palace at Hof van Heeckeren. The Stedelijk Museum Zutphen presents the city’s history through special objects from museum and archaeological collections. The Museum Henriette Polak focuses on figurative art as well as modern-classical painting and sculpture after 1945. Erve Eme offers another way to explore the city’s history: the site presents Zutphen’s early medieval history.

The Librije is particularly closely associated with the Walburgiskerk and is the oldest public reading room in the Netherlands. It was built between 1561 and 1564 based on the model of the book rooms of two medieval monasteries in Zutphen. Its collection comprises around 750 books, several of which are chained to centuries-old reading desks. Guided tours of the Walburgiskerk and the Librije last around 40 minutes and are limited to a maximum of eight visitors per tour.

Other buildings also make the city’s historical development visible. The oldest part of the tower of the Martinuskerk dates from around 1100 or earlier. A historic route through the city centre leads via Zaadmarkt, 's-Gravenhof, Berkelpoort and Drogenapstoren. Those who want to explore the city with explanations can join a guided city walk, which lasts around 1.5 hours and provides interesting facts as well as information about the city’s history.

The Wijnhuistoren can be climbed with a guide. The ascent is free of charge and offers views of Zutphen and the surrounding area, as well as information about the carillon. There is also an exhibition in the attic about the tower’s construction and the carillon. For information and inspiration, Inspiratiepunt Zutphen at Houtmarkt 75 welcomes residents and tourists.

Water and nature

South of Zutphen, near Fort Bronsbergen, lies Bronsbergenmeer. The lake covers 12 hectares and has several beaches. Swimming is permitted throughout the lake from sunrise to sunset at one’s own risk. This clearly describes both the size of the body of water and the conditions that apply to swimming.

The Berkel opens up another perspective on the city. Visitors can go canoeing or stand-up paddleboarding there and discover Zutphen from the water as well as the nature around the city. A trip on an electric whisper boat lasts more than an hour and passes through the historic city and the surrounding nature. A lift can be used when boarding and disembarking by people with reduced mobility.

Erve Eme and local insights

Erve Eme includes a furnished residential farmhouse, a forge, a small pit dwelling and an oven building with a bread oven and pottery kiln. The site also includes an apiary, vegetable and herb gardens, and fields with old cultivated plants. During events, craftspeople explain their work and give demonstrations. The focus is therefore on both the buildings and cultivated areas and practical insights into craft activities.

The regional world of flavours can also be explored in various formats. Rokerij Zuidvenne offers a tour about fish smoking that ends with a tasting of authentically smoked products. Smaakverkenners is a walk through Zutphen during which visitors sample dishes and products at various restaurants and speciality shops.

Routes around Zutphen

In Warnsveld, TOP Warnsveld is starting point 27 of the hiking trail network. Cycling junctions 74 and 76 are also located there, allowing visitors to create their own routes. From Zutphen, visitors can cycle into the Berkelstreek, including along klompenpaden and to country estates such as 't Velde and Vorden’s Eight Castles.

Local traditions include the Dorpsfeesten in Warnsveld. They traditionally take place on the third weekend of August and include music and various activities. For further orientation within the directly linked pages, Zutphen and Warnsveld are available.

Other destinations in the same regional area: Doesburg, Winterswijk, Berkelland, Nijmegen, Oldebroek, Heumen.

To the higher-level travel overview: Gelderland.