A 1545 Schepenzaal, a reconstructed medieval cog and a carillon with 48 bells: Kampen offers a variety of ways to explore its history. Its museums, churches and craft venues cover a wide range of subjects—from life on the IJssel to the production of flour and dairy products.
Museums in Historic Buildings
The Stedelijk Museum Kampen is housed in the former town hall. Its collection comprises more than 8,300 objects and covers, among other things, life on the IJssel. One of its special exhibits is the 1545 Schepenzaal. The museum combines a large collection with a direct insight into the city’s history.
The permanent collection of the Alexander Stichting is on display at the Ikonenmuseum Kampen. The museum is housed in a historic monastery that was once part of the Friars Minor convent. It is a five-minute walk from Kampen station. The Biermuseum offers a different historic setting: it is located in a restored building dating from 1440. Visitors can enjoy medieval beer in the garden room.
The Bovenkerk also offers several ways to explore history. It is known for its beautiful acoustics and regularly hosts concerts. Family tombs are located in the Lemker Chapel and the crypt; the painter Hendrick Avercamp is also buried here. Group tours of the church are offered year-round. Check the tour arrangements before your visit.
Cog, Tower and Crafts
The Kamper Cog is a reconstruction of a medieval cargo ship, based on a wreck dating from around 1334. The Koggewerf grounds are freely accessible. A guided tour of the grounds and the cog can be arranged by appointment. A trip aboard the Kamper Cog along the IJssel near Kampen can also be arranged following prior contact and by appointment; check the options in advance.
De Nieuwe Toren is a protected monument and a bell tower around three and a half centuries old. Its carillon has 48 bells and rings regularly. Visitors wishing to climb the tower can do so by appointment: 163 steps lead to a height of around 65 metres. Arrange your climb before your visit. Guided city walks with an experienced guide are another way to explore the area on foot.
Two routes offer different perspectives: the Inspiratieroute Kampen runs year-round past studios, galleries and other creative venues in the historic city centre. The Ambachtelijke Route introduces visitors to living traditional crafts and historic monuments that recall the city’s trading and maritime history. The routes range from creative work to traces of the crafts and trade of the past.
D’Olde Zwarver also connects craftsmanship with a clear production process. It is the only working grain mill in the municipality of Kampen. Visitors can follow the journey from grain to flour, while volunteer millers show how the mill’s parts work together. A one-hour tour can be booked at the historic De Olifant cigar factory. It covers the purchasing and production process of De Olifant & De Eenhoorn. Check availability and booking conditions before your visit.
Kampereiland and Reevediep
The Kampereiland is an unbroken meadow landscape made up of outer polders, significant for its natural values, cultural history and geological history. In the Reevediep, large groups of black-tailed godwits and other waders use the area to roost and feed. The southern part of the Reevediep is accessible only via a walking and cycling path. The Reevediep also has a navigation channel for recreational boats between the Drontermeer and the IJssel. These details offer different perspectives on the landscape: travelling on foot or by bike, the birdlife and the use of the waterway.
The Erf 29 farm museum shows how people worked on the farms of the Kampereiland 100 years ago. It is located in a 19th-century Saxon-style hall house, built on a mound. Erf-1 offers another insight into farm life. In use since 1432, it is considered the first and oldest farm on the Kampereiland. Visitors can tour the barn and see how the products are made. The farm’s own milk is traditionally processed into products such as yoghurt and butter. A tour of the ERF includes a cheese tasting and coffee or tea; arrange a time in advance.
The range of topics spans collections and architectural history, living crafts and a landscape where nature and human activity can be seen side by side. Plan your stay around your interests: perhaps the museums and the cog, routes through creative and historic places, or insights into the farms and the Reevediep.
Discover more destinations: Kampen, Kamperveen, Zalk, Grafhorst, IJsselmuiden, Hellendoorn, Twenterand, Zwartewaterland.
Return to the main travel overview: Overijssel.
