Discover Raalte: Culture, History and Hotels

Raalte offers several cultural highlights to consider when planning a trip: historic churches and walking routes, as well as a theatre, an open-air museum and a large outdoor playground. If you are looking for a hotel in Raalte, these themes can help you shape your stay: Would you mainly like to discover local history, visit a cultural institution or also include an outdoor attraction? The following places differ in their themes and in the specific historical or practical features they offer.

Churches with different historical points of interest

The Plaskerk is Raalte’s oldest building and was first mentioned in 1123. The church features religious ceiling paintings from the 15th century, known as secco paintings. This brings together two different dates: the building’s first mention and the later creation of the paintings. Those interested in architectural and local history will therefore find more than one historical point of interest at the Plaskerk.

Another highlight is the Heilige-Kruisverheffing Basilica complex in the centre of Raalte. It includes a church built by Alfred Tepe in 1891. The Kruisverheffingkerk was elevated to the status of a Basilica Minor in 1992. The dates refer to different historical facts: 1891 is the year the church was built, while 1992 marks its elevation to Basilica Minor status. This offers another way to explore the site’s history through its construction and status dates.

Two ways to experience local history

The “Raalte: Langs kerk en kasteel” route starts and ends at the Plaskerk in the centre. The church is about 700 metres from the railway station. The Historical Centre Route of Raalte is a circular walk through the centre, where you can experience the history of the place that is still visible today. Signs along the way provide information about historic sights; QR codes link to old photographs and audio clips. The practical difference for your planning is clear: the start and end points are specified for the first route, while the second combines historical information with signs, images and audio.

Art, theatre and event history

The Openluchtmuseum Molenhof is located in the centre of Raalte. It consists of four large frames containing artworks that change every year. The annual rotation of the artworks offers a different focus from the churches’ historical dates.

The HOFtheater is a medium-sized theatre in Raalte with more than 300 seats. Another historical detail concerns Stöppelhaene: the event was first held officially in 1951.

A large-scale outdoor attraction

De Flierefluiter has an outdoor playground in Raalte covering an area of about six football fields. This approximate size gives you a sense of its scale and sets it apart from the churches and historic walking routes in the centre. If you would like to consider different types of attractions when choosing places to visit, you can take this distinction into account when planning your trip.

Plan your visit

Seasonal visits are available at the Plaskerk: Wednesdays in July and August, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; outside this period, group visits can be arranged on request. Before travelling, check whether these hours apply to your visit. This will help you include the visit in your plans and take into account that groups must make an enquiry outside the specified season.

Discover more destinations: Luttenberg, Heeten, Nieuw-Heeten, Heino, Broekland, Laag Zuthem.

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