Harderwijk is situated on the Randmeren. You can also go cycling and hiking in the natural areas of the Veluwe, and plan some time to relax by and around the Veluwemeer. This means you can choose from a range of focuses for your stay: historic city walks, museums, or activities in nature and on the water.
Discover the city's history on foot
If you want to explore Harderwijk on foot, you can compare two walks with different focuses. The “Stadswandeling open monumenten” is a 3.7-kilometre city walk that passes the Old Town Hall, the Vischpoort and the Grote Kerk. The permanent Poëzieroute runs through the historic city centre, with poems displayed on the façades of notable places. While one route focuses on specific historic buildings, the other combines a walk with poetry.
The Vischpoort is the only surviving city gate in Harderwijk. It was built at the end of the 14th century, and its upper section dates from the 15th century. A lighthouse was built on the gate in 1851; its light was probably extinguished in 1947. The Vischpoort can be visited as part of a guided city tour. As dates may change, check the latest information about the tour.
Another striking building is Molen De Hoop: the windmill, built in 1778, is 35 metres high and has marked the city gate of Harderwijk since 1998. The painted vaults of the Grote Kerk, meanwhile, tell of a later artistic layer in the city's history: Ewolt van Delft and his daughter Agatha van Deventer painted them in 1561 and 1562. An audio tour about the vaults is available in Dutch, English and German.
Museums and local stories
At the Stadsmuseum Harderwijk, the permanent exhibition “Pension Harderwijk | kamers vol verhalen” presents the city's history through characters, each representing a particular era. For children, the Eksterroute offers a playful way to discover the museum's treasures. Exhibition content and programmes may be updated, so check the latest museum information before your visit.
The Marius van Dokkum Museum is dedicated to the work of a living artist and displays humorous paintings by Marius van Dokkum. The Palingmuseum, by contrast, focuses on the history of eel fishing, tracing its historical development through the story of fisherman Barend. Visitors can smoke eel themselves under the guidance of master smoker Dries; participation may depend on the arrangements available on site.
The Bottermuseum is dedicated to Harderwijk's sailing heritage and nautical past. One package combines a museum visit with a trip aboard an authentic Botter. Whether this trip is available depends on the Botters and their skippers, so check availability before making plans.
Hands-on crafts are also among the activities on offer: the Harderwijkse Molen Stichting holds annual baking workshops led by an experienced baker. Participants do the baking themselves and take home their freshly baked creation and the recipe.
Veluwe, Randmeren and experiences by the water
Cycling and hiking in the natural areas of the Veluwe are options for getting active outdoors. If you would rather spend your time by the water, you can find opportunities to relax by and around the Veluwemeer. SUP tours on the Randmeren are also offered in Harderwijk; availability depends on local providers.
The Dolfinarium offers the dolphin show “Oceanica”. Admission includes access to the park, all shows and presentations, the playgrounds, the beach and the “Waterpret” attraction, provided Waterpret is open. The options therefore differ considerably: the routes and museums focus on city history, while the activities around the Veluwe and the water appeal to other interests.
For help finding your way around, the VVV, or Toeristisch Informatie Punt, in Harderwijk provides cycling, hiking and city maps. Which activities you combine will depend mainly on whether you want to focus your time on historic places, outdoor activities or experiences by the water. For SUP tours, the Botter trip and changing museum offers, it is worth checking the relevant current conditions in advance.
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