Zwolle travel guide — Zwolle tourism and travel information

Zwolle travel guide

about Zwolle

Zwolle is a municipality and the capital city of the province of Overijssel, Netherlands, 50 miles northeast of Amsterdam. Zwolle has about 110,000 citizens and is one of the most important cities in the northern and eastern parts of the country. Zwolle is located on or near three rivers (Zwarte Water, Vecht and IJssel), three ship canals (the now disused Willemsvaart and Overijssels Kanaal canals, and the modern Zwolle-IJssel Canal) and several important motorways (A28, A50 and perhaps in the future A35).

Zwolle history

Archaeological finds indicate that the area surrounding Zwolle was already inhabited by the ancient Germanic Isala tribe around 1500 B.C. The modern city was founded around 800 A.D. by Frisian merchants and by troops of Charlemagne. The name Zwolle comes from the word Suolle, which means "hill". Zwolle was founded on a hill between the three rivers surrounding the city, IJssel, Vecht and Zwarte Water. The hill was the only piece of land that would remain dry during the frequent floodings of the rivers. The oldest known written mention of Zwolle is from 1040 A.D. A document mentions the existence of a parish church dedicated to St Michael. That church, the Grote of Sint Michaëlskerk, was renovated in the first half of the 15th century and still exists to this day. The church contains a richly carved pulpit, the work of Adam Straes van Weilborch (about 1620), some good carving and an exquisite organ (1721). On August 31st, 1230 A.D., the bishop of Utrecht granted Zwolle city rights. In July 1324 and in October 1361, regional noblemen set fire to Zwolle. In the 1324 fire, only 9 buildings escaped the flames. Zwolle's golden age came in the 15th century. Zwolle was an important member of the Hanseatic league and one of the most important cities in the north and east of the Netherlands. Between 1402 and 1450, the city's GDP multiplied by about 6.

Zwolle was also the center of the Brethren of the Common Life, a monastic movement. Three miles from Zwolle, on a slight eminence called the Agnietenberg, (hill of St Agnes), once stood the Augustinian convent in which Thomas à Kempis spent the greatest part of his life and died in 1471.

At least as early as 1911, Zwolle had a considerable trade by river, a large fish market, and the most important cattle market in Holland after Rotterdam. The more important industries comprised cotton manufactures, iron works, boat-building, dyeing and bleaching, tanning, rope-making and salt-making.

Citizens of Zwolle are known as Blauwvingers (blue fingers). This dates back to the rivalry with neighbouring city Kampen. When the local government was cash-strapped, they saw no option but to sell church bells to Kampen. To be sure Kampen didn't take too much profit from the deal, the local authorities asked a high price for the church bells. Kampen agreed to the deal, on the condition that they could choose their own way of paying for the church bells. Zwolle agreed to the condition, and Kampen paid in pennies made of copper. Because of the distrust, Zwolle wanted to be sure Kampen truly paid the price. The local authorities therefore counted their fingers blue, hence the name blue fingers.

Near cities to Zwolle

• Hattem travel guide 6.0 km
• Meppel travel guide 21 km
• Deventer travel guide 28 km
• Hoogeveen travel guide 34 km
• Apeldoorn travel guide 35 km
• Harderwijk travel guide 37 km
• Urk travel guide 37 km
• Zutphen travel guide 41 km
• Lelystad travel guide 42 km
• Almelo travel guide 43 km

Near webcams to Zwolle

• Zwolle - Sassenpoort webcam 7.2 km
• Blokzijl webcam 24 km
• Enschede - Stadhuisplein webcam 64 km
• Hilversum - Airport webcam 70 km
• De Bilt - KNMI webcam 77 km
• Amsterdam webcam 82 km
• Amsterdam - Dam Square webcam 82 km
• Amsterdam - Cam 1 webcam 82 km
• Groningen - Martini Tower webcam 83 km
• Amsterdam webcam 84 km

back to top

Zwolle travel services

cheap flights to Zwolle

• book cheap flights to Zwolle »
• book cheap flights to Netherlands »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of four main cheap airline tickets and cheap flights online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap airline tickets Zwolle, cheap flights Zwolle, also available cheap airline tickets to Netherlands and to the whole world. Up to date cheap flights Zwolle deals also available.

cheap Zwolle hotels

• book cheap hotels to Zwolle »
• book cheap hotels to Netherlands »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap hotels and accommodation online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap hotels in Zwolle, Netherlands hotel guide and cheap hotels and accommodation in lot of other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Zwolle hotel deals and discount accommodation tips also available.

cheap Zwolle vacations

• book Zwolle vacations »
• book Netherlands vacations »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap vacations online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap vacations in Zwolle, Netherlands vacation rentals and cheap vacations in lot of other destinations world-wide. Up to date Zwolle vacation deals also available.

cheap car rentals in Zwolle

• book cheap car rental in Zwolle »
• book cheap car rentals in Netherlands »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main car rentals online booking systems. We are happy to offer car rentals in Zwolle, car hire in Netherlands and cheap car rental in lot other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Zwolle car hire deals also available.

Zwolle travel insurance

• Zwolle cheap travel insurance »
• cheap travel insurance for Netherlands »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of Essential Travel Ltd., leading online travel insurance company, we can offer you health travel insurance for Zwolle, accident health Zwolle travel insurance, all using our online Zwolle travel insurance form. We also offer travel insurance for other cities in Netherlands. This offer is available for UK residents only.

Zwolle real estate

• Zwolle real estate guide »
• real estate listings in Netherlands »

City Travel Guide comes with Zwolle real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Zwolle property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in Netherlands, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Zwolle.

back to top

Zwolle travel books

Zwolle travel guide books

• Zwolle travel guide books »
• Netherlands travel guide books »

Zwolle maps and atlases

• Zwolle maps and atlases »
• Netherlands maps and atlases »

back to top