Discover Steenwijk

Steenwijk combines buildings with cultural and historical significance and walking and cycling routes through the surrounding countryside. In town, church and villa architecture, museums and visible ramparts take centre stage; around Steenwijk, the landscape adds further variety. When choosing a hotel, it is therefore helpful to first consider whether you want to focus your stay mainly on urban history or also on routes and scenery.

Church architecture and landmark buildings

The Grote Kerk, also known as Sint-Clemenskerk, is a three-aisled Gothic hall church. Its three aisles and Gothic design offer two specific points of reference for understanding its architecture. The organ in the Grote Kerk dates from 1860 and is the largest instrument built by Petrus van Oeckelen. This brings architecture and musical history together in one building: the church can be understood through its design, and the organ through its date of creation and its maker.

The Steenwiekertoorn church tower is also a landmark in the town. It is 86 metres tall. This measurement offers a clear point of reference and a different way of approaching architectural history than a description of architectural style.

Villa Rams Woerthe and museums

Villa Rams Woerthe dates from 1899. As an Art Nouveau architectural heritage site, it is associated with Jan Hendrik Trompmeesters. Since 2007, it has housed the Hildo Krop Museum, which displays a special collection of works by Hildo Krop. Two cultural themes therefore come together here: the villa represents the architecture, while the collection focuses on Krop's works.

The Stadsmuseum Steenwijk is located in a distinctive 19th-century building at Markt 64. Steenwijk thus has several museum-related points of interest: at Rams Woerthe, the villa and the museum housed there go together; at the Stadsmuseum, the building and its address provide a specific point of reference.

Local history and a walking route

The still-visible ramparts of the historic town centre date from the 15th century. They provide a physical link to the town's history. Another way to explore Steenwijk on foot is the Vestingroute Steenwijk, a 2.2-kilometre walking route. These details answer different planning questions: for the ramparts, their historical origins and the surviving structures are key; for the route, the type of activity and its length are specified. The known distance can be factored into your day's plans, while the 15th century places the ramparts in their historical context.

The audio tour “Verhalen uit de Kop” offers another historical perspective. It leads through Steenwijk and introduces visitors to Johan van den Kornput, the hero of Steenwijk. This brings a named historical figure into focus alongside the buildings and ramparts. For your travel plans, this storytelling format differs from exploring the visible buildings: the tour links its route through Steenwijk with the story of van den Kornput.

Scenery and routes around Steenwijk

The landscape around Steenwijk ranges from rolling hills reminiscent of Limburg to the lakes and wetlands of Weerribben and Wieden. The municipality of Steenwijkerland also features a contrast between higher and lower-lying areas: forests, heathland and sandy terrain are within cycling and walking distance of the lower-lying areas of Weerribben and Wieden. These variations in landscape and elevation complement the cultural attractions in town.

Cycling and walking routes around Steenwijk include trails along the De Eese estate. While this route reference names a specific estate, the description of the landscape in Steenwijkerland gives a broader picture of higher- and lower-lying areas. This offers a choice between planning a trip around De Eese and taking a broader interest in forests, heathland, sandy terrain, lakes and wetlands.

If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, you can shape your trip around these themes: churches, the villa and museums offer a cultural and historical focus, while walking and cycling routes also open up the surroundings of Steenwijk.

Discover more destinations: Scheerwolde, Blokzijl, Sint Jansklooster, Paasloo, Wanneperveen, De Bult, Steenwijkerwold, Ossenzijl

For the broader travel overview: Steenwijkerland.