In Deventer, different ways of exploring history come together: toy collections, a weighing house dating from the Hanseatic period and Gothic church windows. There are also walking tours through medieval streets and natural areas along the IJssel. Which of these discoveries interests you most can shape how you see the city.
Discover the city’s history and toys
Museum De Waag holds exhibitions about Deventer’s history throughout the year; the individual exhibitions change. The museum is housed in the oldest weighing house in the Netherlands. It first opened to the public on 16 June 1915. Here, the city’s history meets a historic setting, while the exhibitions offer different insights over time.
Speelgoedmuseum Deventer offers a different perspective. According to the museum, it has the largest toy collection in the Netherlands. The collection comprises more than 14,000 toys that have been used in the Netherlands; new additions can further expand it. Collection categories include dolls and dollhouses, trains, mechanical and optical toys, as well as board games and video games. The highlights are on display in two merchant houses dating from the Hanseatic period. In this way, different types of toys come together in a historic setting, without limiting the collection to a single period or category.
Church architecture and historic buildings
The Lebuinuskerk is a historic church and a monument in the city centre. Inside, you can see Gothic windows, high vaults and preserved authentic details. This draws your attention not only to the overall design of the building, but also to its surviving features. If the tower is open, you can climb it; from there, you can enjoy views of the historic city centre and the IJssel. Access depends on the season and weather, so check before your trip whether the tower is open.
Another point in time is marked by the Bolwerksmolen, which began operating in 1863. Together with the weighing house and the church, it adds a mill building with a clearly stated historic date to the museum and architecture themes.
Walking tour and practical information
The Deventer walking tour passes through medieval streets in the old trading centre, through the Bergkwartier and then towards the Noordenbergkwartier. Deventer’s city guides also lead tours through authentic streets, past monumental buildings and across city squares. Private city guides in German and English can be booked through VVV Deventer. Another place to get tips from locals is the VVV Deventer Winkel at Brink 89. The train and bus stations are a five-minute walk from the city centre.
Nature and educational experiences
A natural area along the IJssel is just a five-minute walk from the centre. You can also experience nature in the Ossenwaard, north of the railway bridge, and in the area around the Bolwerksplas, south of the Wilhelmina Bridge. The two areas lie in different directions; seasonal restrictions apply in some areas during the breeding season.
Ulebelt is Deventer’s centre for nature and environmental education. It offers a children’s farm, themed gardens and play areas, as well as workshops, guided tours, animal-cuddling sessions and educational activities. Programmes may vary, so check in advance which options are currently available.
De Pothaar offers another perspective: it is a farm museum with a welcoming farmyard. Lakenvelder beef is available there seasonally. Alongside city history, architecture and nature, a farm museum and a regional product are also among the possible discoveries.
Discover more destinations: Bathmen, Deventer, Schalkhaar, Diepenveen, Zwartewaterland, Haaksbergen, Hof Van Twente, Ommen.
Return to the main travel overview: Overijssel.
