💬 Zwolle is one of the Netherlands’ most charming hidden gems. It’s quiet but full of character — medieval gates, friendly cafes, and creative museums.
Whether you’re coming from Amsterdam or nearby Giethoorn, this small city surprises you with its history, beauty, and food.

🏰 Admire Zwolle’s Old Fortifications

📍 Where: Historic City Centre
🕒 Best Time: Afternoon walk
ℹ️ Info: The medieval walls and city gates that once protected Zwolle 🧱

🏰 Sassenpoort Gate is one of Zwolle’s top landmarks — a grand old gate that feels like stepping back in time.
You’ll find pieces of the old city wall all around the centre, perfect for history lovers ❤️

• 🏯 Famous Sassenpoort Gate
• 🏛️ One of 100 Dutch Heritage Sites
• 🚶‍♂️ Great for a self-guided walk
• 📸 Perfect for photos at sunset

⛪ See the Grote Kerk (St. Michael’s Church)

📍 Where: Grote Markt Square
🕒 Best Time: Daytime visit
ℹ️ Info: A beautiful old church surrounded by cafes and markets ☕

⛪ In the heart of Zwolle lies the Grote Kerk, a stunning Gothic church known for its Baroque organ.
It’s often used for local art shows and photography exhibits — peaceful, artistic, and very Dutch 🎵

• 🎼 Famous Baroque organ
• 🏛️ Historic 15th-century church
• 🖼️ Art & photo exhibitions
• ☕ Cafes all around the square

🥚 Visit Museum de Fundatie

📍 Where: Blijmarkt, Zwolle
🕒 Best Time: Morning or early afternoon
ℹ️ Info: A museum mixing classic Dutch art and modern architecture 🎨

Ever since I saw a photo of this museum I wanted to visit since it looks so weird! This strange mix of traditional and futuristic architecture is the home of the Museum de Fundatie, a museum for visual arts. There are actually two locations for the museum ; the building in Zwolle was originally the courthouse, and the egg-shaped structure on top was added in 2012-2013.

🎨 The Museum de Fundatie is a must-see — with its egg-shaped dome and stunning city views.
Inside, you’ll find Van Gogh, modern art, and rotating exhibitions.
It’s one of the coolest museums in the Netherlands!

• 🥚 Iconic egg-shaped rooftop
• 🖼️ Classic & modern art inside
• ☕ On-site café with a view
• 📷 Great spot for photography lovers

🎶 Herman Brood Experience

📍 Where: Across from Museum de Fundatie
🕒 Best Time: Anytime
ℹ️ Info: A small, colorful gallery dedicated to Dutch musician-artist Herman Brood 🎤

🎸 Just across from the museum, you’ll find a fun little gallery filled with Herman Brood’s funky, colorful artwork.
It’s creative, cool, and the perfect place to stop for coffee ☕

• 🎨 Paintings & sculptures
• 🎸 Inspired by Dutch pop culture
• 🛍️ Prints & souvenirs available
• ☕ Cozy corner for a quick break

📚 Explore Van der Velde Boeken

📍 Where: Achter de Broeren, Zwolle
🕒 Best Time: Anytime
ℹ️ Info: A 15th-century church turned into a magical bookstore 📖

One of the most well-known, and my favourite, places to visit in Zwolle is Van der Velde Boeken (which used to be known as Waanders in de Broeren): a bookstore in a 15th-century church! There’s another well-known and beautiful church-turned-bookstore in Maastricht, but this one in Zwolle is certainly much closer to Amsterdam.

📚 This bookstore inside an old church is one of Zwolle’s highlights.
You can browse books under stained-glass windows or relax at the café inside — every book lover’s dream 📖

• 🕯️ Bookstore in a church
• 📘 English books available
• ☕ Café inside the building
• 📸 Great photo spot for readers

🍽️ Shop and Eat Around Grote Markt

📍 Where: Main City Square
🕒 Best Time: Lunch or evening
ℹ️ Info: Zwolle’s main hub for food, drinks, and shopping 🛍️

🍻 The Grote Markt near Grote Kerk is full of lively cafés, and just a few streets away you’ll find even cooler spots! 🏙️ If you love shopping 🛍️ and good food 🍽️, Zwolle is perfect. Next time, I’ve got a few more places on my list to explore! ✨

🥂 Walk through Diezerstraat for shops or relax in Grote Markt for great food and people-watching.
The cafes and restaurants here show off Zwolle’s warm, local side 🌸

• De Librije: This restaurant has 3 Michelin Stars and looks gorgeous, so it would be a great choice if you’re splurging on an amazing meal for a special occasion!
• In Den Hoofdwacht: This is the little restaurant that’s sort of attached to the Grote Kerk (you can see it in the photo above) and is a good choice if you want to eat on the main terrace and watch the world go by.
• Grand Café Staatsman: I recently spotted this ‘grand café’ and thought it looked stunning from the outside. Checking their website, this also looks like a great spot for lunch if you’re shopping in the city centre, especially if you sit in the inner terrace.
• De Admiraal Bar & BBQ: I love the style of this bar/restaurant, which features lots of wood like it’s the inside of a ship and serves some pretty mouth-watering looking dishes to boot.
• Wannawaffle: This looks like the perfect spot for breakfast or brunch in Zwolle, particularly if you like waffles! They have sweet and savoury choices, as well as sandwiches, salads and other dishes.

🏰 Day Trip to Kasteel Het Nijenhuis

📍 Where: Near Heino (25 mins from Zwolle)
🕒 Best Time: Morning or afternoon
ℹ️ Info: A scenic castle and sculpture garden outside Zwolle 🏡

🏰 Just a short drive from Zwolle, this castle and sculpture park feels like a fairytale.
It’s full of art, gardens, and peaceful walking paths 🌿

• 🏛️ Part of Museum de Fundatie
• 🖼️ Sculpture garden
• 🌳 Green open surroundings
• 📸 Beautiful for day trips

🌷 Zwolle in Short

📍 Where: Overijssel Province
🕒 Best For: Day trips & weekend getaways
ℹ️ Info: A cozy Dutch city mixing history, food, and creativity 🌸

Zwolle is also in a great spot if you’d like to perhaps stay overnight and visit the picture-perfect town of Giethoorn! You can read more about visiting Giethoorn in my guide. While you can stay the night in Giethoorn itself, it would also be quite convenient to combine a trip to both places in one, and then choose if you’d rather stay in Giethoorn or Zwolle.

• 🏰 Beautiful medieval city centre
• ☕ Cute cafes & restaurants
• 🎨 Great museums & galleries
• 🌿 Perfect stop before Giethoorn

🚲 Explore Zwolle & Beyond with Amsterdam Bike Taxi!

After a beautiful day in Zwolle, enjoy an easy, scenic ride when you’re back in Amsterdam with Bike Taxi — the city’s most colorful and eco-friendly tour 🌷

💨 No traffic, no stress — just smooth electric rides through canals, bridges, and cozy Dutch lanes.
It’s the perfect way to relax after exploring Zwolle and still experience the magic of Amsterdam at night ✨

• 💐 Private rides for 1–2 people
• 📸 Perfect for photos near canals & museums
• 🏛️ Local guides share fun facts & hidden gems
• 🌿 100% electric & eco-friendly experience

📍 Pick-Up Points: Near Dam Square, Rijksmuseum & Central Station
🕒 Best Time: Day or evening rides

🪶 Disclaimer: Bike Taxi is an independent service and not affiliated with Zwolle museums or attractions.

👉 Book Now: https://amsterdam-bike-taxi.com/booking/

💬 Disclaimer

All details are true at the time of writing. Some prices or events may change — always check the official website before you plan 🌷

All Image Credit – thingstodoinamsterdam.com