A weekend getaway in Deventer

First a little history

Hanseatic city Deventer is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. In the Middle Ages, Deventer was part of the Hanseatic League: a North German trade network. Located on the river IJssel, Deventer was easily accessible for shipping and trade flourished. Because the city is so old, there is a lot of history to be found. To get to know the city well, it’s best to plan a weekend in Deventer and then do some sightseeing around the city. Walking or biking is the best way to see the city.

Clear center

The center of Deventer is not that big and nice and clear. Of course you walk a lot, but you don’t have to worry about coming back worn out from your weekend getaway in Deventer. We highly recommend booking a city walk with a city guide. You can do that with a group at the VVV Deventer, for example. We also did a city walk during our visit to Deventer. You can read all about it in this blog. That way you get to know the city even better!

Funny street names

The surrounding streets are also a lot of fun. Throughout the city there are colored umbrellas and soon when the evenings get longer, they will be replaced by lights. Truus told us all about the different street names during the city walk through Deventer. For example, you have the Kleine Overstraat. Up to there the water came during a small flood of the IJssel. But if the water came to the Grote Overstraat, half the city had wet feet. The Grote Kerkhof used to actually be a cemetery.

Nowadays the regional market is held there once a month, and if there is a fair, you’ll find it there. Walstraat is an incredibly nice little street. It is so named because this street used to follow the northeastern part of the city wall and rampart. The Berg Quarter, including the Berg Church, was slightly higher than the rest of the city, hence “mountain.” In addition, you will find references to the time of the Vikings against which Deventer had to defend itself. Just look at Saxion University and movie house MIMIK. Against these, the Stenenwal was raised.

Visit a museum sometime!

Deventer has nice museums. For example, we visited the recently remodeled Toy Museum and the fascinating Museum de Waag where there was an interesting exhibition about the Disaster Year 1672. Are you there on a Saturday? Then don’t forget to visit the Charles Dickens Cabinet, as it is open only on that day. Do you like art? Then a visit to the Bergkerk (or St. Nicholas Church) is very special. In fact, local artists are allowed to exhibit here. Geert Grote was an important resident of Deventer. His parental home has also been turned into a museum. Read more about these special museums in this blog.

Nice shopping

What I loved about Deventer was the large amount of small boutiques. Sure, you can find the big chain stores too, but there are also lots of sweet little stores. And lots of antique and art stores. One of our favorites was Roemar Koffie & Thee on Walstraat 45 where you can also sit down to enjoy a delicious cup of homemade coffee or tea. The Zoete Geit and Sjokolaa are also really worth a visit!

Also very nice: gift store Hoge Ramen on Grote Overstraat 48, vintage shop Tantilly on Kleine Overstraat 45 and sustainable concept store Blue Hand1652 on Kleine Overstraat 35. Koning Willem on Kleine Overstraat 22 – 26 has a huge collection of games and Funko Pops. Even more playtime fun can be found at Speel je Wijs. This toy store has beautiful sustainable wooden toys. But this is just a sampling of all the fun stores we came across!

Good food and drink

In Deventer you can also find lots of nice places to eat and drink. In the city center, besides the Deventer Koekwinkel on Brink 84, where we were guests for a cookie tasting, you can try many more goodies. Ice cream from Gio’s Gelateria & Caffé, for example, is also irresistible. You’ll find them at Grote Kerkhof 24, and Meadow is open from April through October. Meadow can be found on Deventer’s city beach across the river IJssel. You can get there very easily by taking the ferry across. A touch of Paris in Deventer can be found at St. Maxime on the Nieuwe Markt. Here you can go for lunch, dinner and cozy drinks with friends.

Fancy a tasty beer from Deventer soil? Then you really have to go to DAVO Bieren. We had an incredibly fun beer tasting there (and even though I don’t like beer!). We were especially impressed by the story of co-owner Jos. Besides beer they have many other tasty things. They also know their way around food. So definitely a must visit!

Sleep well

In Deventer there are lots of places where you can have a great night’s sleep. B&B het KoffiePakhuys for example, where you spend the night in a real merchant’s house. Another very special place is Atelier Raamwerk, where you will be inspired while sleeping by all the beauty around you. We ourselves stayed across the river IJssel in the Pillows Luxury Boutique Hotel. This is highly recommended! You are close to the center, but on the quiet side. We had a wonderful night, dinner and breakfast. You can read all about it in this blog.

Parking in the center of Deventer

There are parking garages to be found in Deventer, but not right in the center. They are located a bit around the center. Actually, it’s better to park across the IJssel River and take the ferry across. Very cheap and also a lot of fun! Parking on the other side of the IJssel costs 1 euro per day! That’s not bad for a weekend in Deventer. On Sundays, parking there is even free. And a ferry crossing is only 1.70 per return. Children especially love a ferry crossing and it gives you a nice view of the city center.

Photos: OpstapmetLisa

This blog was editorially created in conjunction with VVV Deventer. Thanks also to city guide Truus Schreijer for the fun city tour!