Welcome visitors
The power of water
The Hanseatic city of Kampen is centrally located in the Netherlands. Its position at the mouth of the River IJssel made it one of the most powerful Hanseatic cities in the past. Its rich history is still visible: a unique historical inner city and one of the most beautiful city fronts in the Netherlands.
Even today Kampen uses the water for trade. With the opening of the Zuiderzee Harbour, Kampen has once again become a logistical water transport hub in the eastern Netherlands.
Kampen also has much to offer in the way of water sports and recreation, boasting extensive facilities that include many yacht clubs, mooring facilities and waterways.
Access
Kampen is centrally located in the Netherlands at a hub of hub of rail, road and water routes. Public highway 50 and the Zuiderzee Harbour provide easy access to the city. The new Hanseatic Rail Route (‘Hanzelijn’) is also under construction with a new station in Kampen, making rail connections to the west of the country even faster within a few years.
A city full of listed buildings
Kampen’s heritage has been well preserved. The alluring historical inner city, containing nearly 700 nationally and locally listed buildings, recalls the prosperity of the Hanseatic period. We list just a few of them here: the Bovenkerk, the New Tower, the old and new City Halls, and the three city gates. Kampen’s history is also manifest in the city’s topographic development, much of the old structure being still intact. To a large extent the layout of inner city streets has remained unchanged since the Middle Ages.
A city bursting with life
Every year Kampen hosts an enormous range of events and festivities. All of them have established a firm foothold in various parts of the city. These include not only the historical inner city with its many squares, but the Plantsoen as well (Kampen’s spacious city part). The River IJssel offers excellent opportunities for organising events, both on the river and along its banks. In addition to these sites, Kampen boasts a city theatre and various hall venues. All in all, Kampen offers a wide range of exhilarating activities for all tastes.
Attractive living and working environment
Kampen offers a wide variety of residential locations. Aside from the historical centre, residential areas are located in more village-like and country surroundings. New residential projects are springing up in various parts of Kampen. The city is promoting the development of attractive residential areas with a mix of commerce and recreation. Its surroundings have an important role to play in this regard. Kampen is situated in the IJssel Delta National Landscape, one of twenty Dutch landscapes officially designated as having rare or unique qualities (nationally or internationally). Characteristic of the IJssel Delta National Landscape is its river area, ancient polders, farms built on mounds (‘terpboerderijen’) and so-called creekbacks (‘kreekruggen’, which are sandbanks in the sea-clay landscape). Kampen boasts a full range of facilities, such as a wide range of shops, primary and secondary schools, and in addition numerous and various sports facilities.
For more tourist information in English you can visit: www.vvvijsseldelta.nl.