Harderwijk: City History, Nature and Water

Harderwijk is situated on the water of the Randmeren lakes. There are different ways to shape your trip: city gates and museums tell stories of history and culture, while the natural areas of the Veluwe offer opportunities for cycling and walking. You can relax on and around Lake Veluwemeer. This lets you tailor your stay to what interests you most—from a walk through the city to time in nature or by the water.

Water, nature and walking routes

If you enjoy spending time outdoors, you can walk or cycle in the natural areas of the Veluwe. You can relax on and around Lake Veluwemeer, and SUP tours across the Randmeren lakes are also available. Their availability depends on local providers. If you are planning to take a tour, it is best to check what is currently available.

For a city walk, the “Stadswandeling open monumenten” provides a specific route distance: it is 3.7 kilometres long and passes the Old Town Hall, the Vischpoort and the Grote Kerk. The permanent Poëzieroute offers a different focus. It runs through the historic city centre, with poems displayed on the facades of notable places. You can choose between a walk with named historic stops and a route where poems form part of the cityscape.

The VVV, or Tourist Information Point in Harderwijk, provides cycling, walking and city maps. These can help you decide how to spend your day: following a walking route, going on a cycle tour or taking a walk through the city.

Vischpoort and other landmarks

The Vischpoort is Harderwijk’s only surviving city gate. It was built at the end of the 14th century; its upper section dates from the 15th century. A lighthouse was built on the gate in 1851. Its light was probably extinguished in 1947—this date remains an estimate. The Vischpoort is included in guided city tours. As dates may change, it is advisable to check in advance for a suitable tour.

Another striking landmark is Molen De Hoop. The windmill was built in 1778, stands 35 metres high and has marked the city gate of Harderwijk since 1998. Together with the Vischpoort, it offers another perspective on the city’s history: the focus here is on a surviving city gate and a windmill with precisely recorded construction and date details.

Museums, art and church interiors

At the Stadsmuseum Harderwijk, the permanent exhibition “Pension Harderwijk | kamers vol verhalen” presents the city’s history through figures, each representing a particular era. For children, the museum also offers the Eksterroute, which guides them playfully to the museum’s treasures. If you are visiting specifically for one of these exhibitions, check the museum’s current offerings in advance.

The Marius van Dokkum Museum is devoted to the work of a living artist and displays humorous paintings. The Palingmuseum offers another historical focus, using the fisherman Barend to tell the story of how eel fishing developed. Visitors can smoke eel themselves there under the guidance of master smoker Dries. If you would like to take part in this activity, ask about the arrangements in advance.

The vaults are a special feature of the Grote Kerk: Ewolt van Delft and his daughter Agatha van Deventer painted them in 1561 and 1562. An audio tour about the painted vaults is available in Dutch, English and German. This lets you explore the church’s art with explanations in one of these three languages.

The Bottermuseum explores Harderwijk’s sailing heritage and nautical past. One package combines a museum visit with a trip on an authentic Botter. Availability depends on the boats and their skippers, so if you want to include this combination in your plans, check current availability.

More activities

The Harderwijkse Molen Stichting holds practical baking workshops each year, led by an experienced baker. Participants take home their freshly baked creation and the recipe. It combines hands-on activity with a tangible result that you can keep after the workshop.

The Dolfinarium offers the dolphin show “Oceanica”. Admission includes access to the park, all shows and presentations, the playgrounds, the beach and the “Waterpret” attraction, if it is open. As the programme and included services may change, it is a good idea to check the latest information before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Hierden

Back to the overview of destinations: Harderwijk.