Set on the eastern bank of the river IJssel, Zutphen is a historic city first mentioned in the 11th century. It received its town rights shortly after and flourished in the Middle Ages as a member of the Hanseatic League. Beautifully preserved buildings dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries cluster in its historic core.
Things to do in Zutphen
One of Zutphen’s most important architectural landmarks is St. Walburgis Church, which was originally established in the 11th century and has been remodelled several times since. Listen to the bells ringing from its tower before stepping inside to admire the elaborate copper font and 14th-century candelabra. Precious manuscripts are housed in the adjacent library.
Get up close to the oldest photo in the Netherlands at the Stedelijk Museum, which details the fascinating history of the city through archaeological findings and historic artefacts. It occupies a former palace and forms part of the Musea Zutphen, which also includes the Museum Henriette Polak. Here you’ll find a collection of artwork by Joop Sjollema, Arie Schippers and Wendelien Schonfeld.
On the opposite side of the IJssel is the Stichting Museum Boer Kip, which occupies the city farm where painter Herman Kip lived until his death in 2006. It illustrates his simple life as a farmer and the dozens of everyday objects that he painted. Admire the beautifully decorated tables, chairs and cupboards, together with plates, vases and milk jugs.
Getting around Zutphen
Zutphen is around 35 minutes’ drive from Arnhem and just over an hour from Amsterdam. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is 1.5 hours away and has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Zutphen railway station and the city centre is compact enough to explore on foot.