Zutphen is one of the best-preserved medieval town centres in the Netherlands. Museums and historic buildings give the city a distinctive cultural and historical character, while the Tichelbeeksewaard offers a natural area along the IJssel. There is plenty to explore, from collections and architecture to walking and cycling routes. The historic city centre is about a five-minute walk from the train station.
Art, collections and local history
The Stedelijk Museum Zutphen presents the city’s history through its museum, archaeological and archival collections. These three collection areas offer different ways to explore Zutphen’s past. The Museum Henriette Polak has a different artistic focus: it is dedicated to modern classical painting and sculpture.
At the Digital Depot of the Museum Henriette Polak, visitors can put together their own exhibition from a representative selection of the collection and display their chosen works on the museum walls. This makes the museum visit interactive: instead of viewing only a preselected display, you can choose and arrange the works yourself. For an art-focused trip, this experience adds a personal selection to the museum’s collection.
The Librije is also one of Zutphen’s cultural and historical highlights. It is recognised as a unique monument because its building, furnishings and collection have remained untouched by time. At Dat Bolwerck, historic architecture sits alongside an ongoing cultural programme: the listed monument dates from 1549 and has a large city garden enclosed by the historic city wall. Since 2015, Dat Bolwerck has provided a stage for contemporary art, modern music and philosophy; individual programmes may change.
The exhibition rooms on the ground floor and the city garden at Dat Bolwerck are accessible to wheelchair users. This makes it possible to visit most of the exhibitions. However, individual exhibitions may also use other rooms. If a visit is important to your plans, bear this possible limitation in mind when choosing an exhibition.
Historic places and their different stories
The attic of the Wijnhuistoren houses an exhibition about the tower’s origins and its carillon. The oldest visible parts of the Sint-Janskerk date from the 14th century. The Berkelpoort, in turn, connected Zutphen’s old town with the Nieuwstad. These three places offer different perspectives on the city’s history: the development of a tower, the visible traces of a church’s construction, and the historic link between two parts of the city.
Another attraction is De Hanzeaat, where animation films and interactive activities bring a special period to life for visitors of all ages. Together with the museums and historic buildings, it offers a range of ways to explore art, architecture and history.
Nature, routes and exploring from the water
The Tichelbeeksewaard lies along the IJssel and forms a green link between Zutphen’s city centre, the river and De Hoven. If you’d like to include nature as well as local history in your plans, you’ll find a distinct landscape to explore here. Zutphen is also a starting and finishing point for walking and cycling routes, including routes to the Achterhoek and the Veluwe, as well as along the IJssel. The city is also connected to regional cycling junction routes and long-distance walking trails.
Berkelfun offers another way to explore the nature around Zutphen or the Hanseatic city from the water. On the Berkel, the company hires out SUP boards, six-person Mega-SUP boards, canoes and kayaks. Equipment and availability may change. This gives you several ways to explore the area: art and history at museums and historic buildings, walking and cycling routes in the region, and activities on the water.
When choosing a stay in Zutphen, a simple way to plan is to decide whether to focus on local history and art, routes through the landscape, or a mix of both. Each of the museums, historic buildings and activities offers a different focus; there is no set sightseeing itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Warnsveld
For the main travel overview: Zutphen.
