In Gorssel, a variety of discoveries come together: Dutch figurative art at Museum MORE, a 15th-century bell and the landscape of the Gorsselse Heide. The history of the tram and a small open-air theatre are also among the topics to consider when planning your trip. This lets you put your interests in art, local history and nature at the centre of your visit without turning the individual places into a fixed itinerary.
Art at Museum MORE
Museum MORE presents an overview of Dutch figurative art from 1900 to the present day. The collection also includes the largest collection of works by the magical realist Carel Willink. The collection’s chronological scope gives the art a broad context, while the focus on Willink adds a clear emphasis on one particular artist. If you choose Gorssel for its cultural offerings too, you will find both here: an overview of an art movement and a special focus within the collection.
Bell, church tower and tram station
A bell cast by G. van Wou in 1498 hangs in the tower of Gorssel’s Protestant church. The tower itself probably dates from the 15th century. Both details are part of local history, but refer to different things.
Another historical trace leads to Gorssel tram station. From 1926 until the bridge over the Twentekanaal was destroyed in 1945, it was a stop on the tram line from Deventer via Zutphen to Emmerich. The building was restored in 2010 and 2011 and now serves as the headquarters of the Historical Association De Elf Marken. This brings both the former tram connection and the building’s later use into focus. Together with the church bell, they offer a sweep of local history ranging from historic transport to a single, dated example of craftsmanship.
Open-air theatre in the town centre
Openluchttheater Gorssel is in the town centre, on the corner of Molenweg and Esdoornlaan. The site was renovated in 2013 to become a publicly accessible park and a small open-air theatre with around 100 seats. A local programme announcement dated 25 March 2026 stated that admission to performances was free. Check the current programme and dates before planning a theatre visit.
Gorsselse Heide and route options
Gorsselse Heide is a 120-hectare wet heathland area and one of the few wet heathland areas in the Netherlands. Sundews, marsh gentians, yellowhammers, sand lizards and great crested newts are among the species found there. The species composition can vary seasonally. For nature lovers, the heathland combines a distinctive landscape with a diverse list of plants and animals, though you should not expect to see the same species at every time of year.
The Drie Kieftenroute passes through the centre of Gorssel, alongside heathland and through extensive woods. Another walk on Gorsselse Heide is 8.3 km long and also takes in woods and fields in the surrounding area. The Drie Kieftenroute passes through the town centre; the separate 8.3 km heathland walk also includes woods and fields. Check the current route information and local availability before setting out.
Check ferry status before travelling
The Gorssel–Wilp ferry was suspended from 15 July 2026 because of low water levels in the IJssel; no date had been announced for resuming service. Check the current ferry status before travelling. This keeps the dated information in mind when planning your trip without treating the situation at the time as the current service status.
Discover more destinations: Laren, Almen, Eefde, Barchem, Kring Van Dorth.
Go to the main travel overview: Lochem.
