In the 15th century, Zwolle developed into a powerful Hanseatic city. As you walk through the medieval city center, you can sense its rich past to this day. The characteristic facades, the defensive wall, the Sassenpoort, the Peperbus, and the star-shaped city moat are the ultimate crowd-pullers.
Zwolle has since grown into the second largest city in Overijssel and has over 120,000 inhabitants in its municipality. Today, Zwolle is a dynamic place with all the amenities of a large city, but still with the charm of a village.
The inhabitants of Zwolle have a nickname. Over time, this has grown into a badge of honor. A genuine folk tale underlies the name ‘Blauwvingers’:
Zwolle had offered the carillon from the Great Church of Kampen for sale, against Kampen’s wishes. The people of Kampen were willing to buy the bell back, provided they could determine the method of payment. The people of Kampen arrived with a wagon full of four-penny pieces. The result: The people of Zwolle got blue fingers from counting the copper coins.
Zwolle exudes culture in every way. Traces of its rich past can be found truly everywhere. The historic facades, the defensive wall, the Sassenpoort, the Peperbus, and the star-shaped city moat are hallmarks of this city's historical culture.
The range of theater, visual arts, film, and literature is also extensive. For instance, Poppodium Hedon, Zwolse Theaters, and Filmtheater Fraterhuis present various music and theater performances throughout the year. For a selection of surprising exhibitions in Zwolle, we refer you to the museums.