Hanseatic tour Zwolle-Kampen-Zwolle through the eyes of Fanbassadors Bunnies Unleashed

Fanbassadors Bunnies Unleashed were set out to cycle the Hanseatic tour Zwolle - Kampen. Check out their personal experiences here. You will certainly feel like taking this route.

Here is their report:

A bike tour that visits several Hanseatic cities. Perhaps to some that sounds like corny pastime in past glory. They miss something, because during our day trip from Zwolle to Kampen we discover authentic charm, hip places and beautiful landscapes. The Netherlands lives up to its name as a cycling country with unprecedented cycling infrastructure, both within and between the cities. Today, the Hanseatic cities no longer trade grains, wood and wool, but contemporary business. Here and there cozy terraces, culinary restaurants, regional products and museums. This still happens in the charming historical setting behind the facades of stately merchant houses and beautiful medieval warehouses.

The Hanseatic cities as a forerunner of the EU

The story of the Hanseatic cities takes us all the way back to the 12th century. Power then belonged to the cities, especially the powerful trading centers. Producers of numerous products gathered in guilds, the sector federations of the Middle Ages. Bakers, butchers, tanners, ... they all had a finger in the pie in the ins and outs of everyday life in the city. Then it happened: a guild that broke away from a certain sector or city and saw it really big. An alliance of merchants who traded goods between numerous European cities, from London to Russia.

The alliance defended the interests of the merchants independently of their place of residence and promoted international trade. Is there a smell to those dried sausages from Germany? No problem, you can fall back on a local court that defends your interests according to internationally applicable agreements. The pact was aptly named Hanse, which is fancy old German for trade caravan. The cities that joined this pact were called Hanseatic cities, and they grew into important trading centers – some even metropolises. In this way, the Hanseatic League grew into a huge European success story. This has made cities great and has brought prosperity and stability. A state-of-the-art concept in the Middle Ages that is comparable to the creation of the European Union in our modern times.

Zwolle as a Hanseatic city

This success story has lasted for about three centuries. An economic crisis and the waning influence of cities vis-à-vis countries were the death knell of the trade fairytale. However, don't worry, because the legacy of three centuries of medieval glory is not something you just wipe out. Many Hanseatic cities prove this to this day, in the presence of the most imaginative historical buildings. One of the most striking in Zwolle is the Sassenpoort. This majestic city gate dates back to the early 1400s, when the city just joined the Hanseatic League. No expense was spared to make a name for themselves with an impressive entrance.

From high in the sky, this city gate has seen times change. If you walk in Zwolle today, it only takes some imagination and a look up to taste the rich history. Modern shops have replaced the medieval commercial premises. But the historic Gothic stepped gables of ornate trading houses still shine as proudly as centuries ago.

Zwolle is one of the great Hanseatic cities in the Middle Ages. When Amsterdam and Rotterdam were still meaningless villages, Zwolle shone like an imposing city. The beautiful buildings in the medieval city centre still bear witness to the enormous prosperity of that time. Hypermodern in the Middle Ages, but even today there is a hip atmosphere. Colleges attract students and entrepreneurs and creatives provide dynamism. We do not understand why such a city with this history and dynamism is not better known in Flanders.

Zwolle, hip and contemporary

We are also one of those Flemings who honestly had never heard of Zwolle. We end up here via NBTC Holland, the tourist office of the Netherlands. We join forces with them to get acquainted with the Hanseatic cities in the east of the Netherlands. They even got these two avid hikers on bikes!

So we start the day in the Lumen Hotel in Zwolle, where two city bikes are waiting for us. Hopefully we haven't forgotten about cycling, because a 48-kilometer trip awaits us today. A short drive takes us to Museum de Fundatie. The building looks like a typical neo-Gothic art temple on which a space creature has laid a futuristic egg. That superstructure is called the UFO and the windows at the rear offer a nice view of the historic city center.

Through picturesque streets we enter the historic center, where old and new have found a nice balance. We find numerous cozy terraces, trendy coffee shops, nice bars and beautiful restaurants. We are almost tempted to buy a painting in Nendekunst, one of the charming art galleries. Culture and conviviality can also be found in the book temple Waanders In de Broeren. This has to be one of the most impressive bookstores we've ever seen, and that's saying something. In this large former church the written word is worshipped today. What a fantastic setting to browse through for fun books! For lovers, there is also a coffee bar.

Also not to be missed in the old center is the Zwolse Balletjeshuis. For centuries, this beautiful building has been home to colorful jars of artisanal sweets. Ideal for sweethearts who want to sin.

The cycling infrastructure of the Netherlands

We could easily spend a day wandering around Zwolle with its cozy shops and beautiful UFO museum. However, we still have a long bike ride ahead of us. The journey to our next stop is via a well-signposted junction network of cycle paths. We also know that in Flanders, the difference in the Netherlands is mainly made by the cycling infrastructure.

We should not risk our lives while driving out of Zwolle. No, real bicycle avenues have been built here where the cyclists and not the car is king. Along the other streets we drive on well-separated cycle paths, often under a beautiful green foliage. Despite the size of Zwolle, it is striking how quiet cycling is in the city. In many places we hardly find moving cars. However, cyclists are plentiful here. This proves that you get people on the bike if you give space to cycle pleasantly and safely.

We drive smoothly out of the city, immediately into a typical Dutch natural landscape. White clouds float in a blue sky above a green farmland intersected with a bicycle path. The path is easy, flat and the surroundings inspiring. Nevertheless, we have to admit that our completely untrained cycling legs have some difficulty with a strong west wind. We have the Netherlands' cycling infrastructure in our hearts, but our legs do not yet fully agree with it. We drive along the IJssel river through some picturesque villages with old Dutch farms to the next Hanseatic city.

Camps, small but nice

We arrive in Kampen in style: over a bridge with golden wheels on top. The Hanseatic city owes its rich past to its favorable location on the banks of the IJssel. Here too you can admire numerous beautiful medieval buildings and facades and discover nice shops that sell local products. There is also no shortage of terraces, bars and restaurants, although we do experience difficulty getting to food around 16:00. In the end we find it with a typical Dutch sandwich and a package of stroopwafels at the local market.

The historic center of Kampen is much smaller than that of Zwolle. It is limited to a few streets between the Buitenkerk and the Bovenkerk. The latter was the first cathedral in the Netherlands. When we enter we receive a leaflet with some explanation of various sights of the building. Especially the organ is a real eye-catcher.

Coperto: Culinary dining in Zwolle

The drive back to Zwolle takes us again along a beautiful vast natural landscape. We enjoy this without straining our legs: the west wind now gives us a boost.

After 48 kilometers of cycling we deserved a nice dinner. We are served at our beck and call in Coperto Restobar, one of the top addresses in Zwolle's rich culinary universe. This restaurant deservedly conquered a place in the Gault & Millau. We each go for a three-course menu where we can choose from six options per dish. True works of art are conjured from the kitchen, each time with surprising and successful taste combinations and textures. Everything served with a generous Dutch smile, what does a person want