Genemuiden between history and waterscapes

Genemuiden brings together waterscapes and the town’s history with textile traditions such as mat weaving and the carpet industry. If you’re looking for a hotel in Genemuiden, these themes can help guide your plans: would you like to explore the landscape, learn more about the history of the town, or discover its textile traditions?

Genemuiden between river and polders

The town borders the Nationaal Landschap IJsseldelta and looks out onto three distinct landscapes. To the north lies the river landscape of the Zwarte Water. To the east and southwest is the distinctive polder landscape of Mastenbroek; to the west lie the outer-dike Zuiderzee polders. This division gives you a practical point of reference as you explore the landscape around Genemuiden.

Water also plays a role in the town centre: the visitor harbour there is a tourist attraction. Trips with De Vijf Gebroeders can take you along the Zwarte Water and reveal a distinctive world of kraggen, reeds, characteristic flora and fauna, lakes and kolken. The focus is not only on the open stretches of water, but also on the varied natural features that are part of this landscape.

Town history and local traditions

At the Historisch Centrum Genemuiden, a permanent exhibition explores the town’s history. It is joined by an early 20th-century period room, an original pre-war shop and a carpenter’s workshop. The different rooms and exhibition areas complement the historical overview with glimpses of domestic life, trade and craftsmanship. You can also discover your own family history and family tree at the Historisch Centrum.

Another part of the cultural heritage is Genemuiden’s tradition of singing with an upper voice, which is closely linked to local mat weaving. Reed cutters sang psalms with an upper voice while cutting the reeds needed for mats along the banks of the Zwarte Water, north of Genemuiden. This tradition therefore connects singing, working with reeds and the riverside landscape.

Carpet history and machinery

At the Tapijtmuseum Genemuiden, historical machines are regularly put into operation in the Machinehal. The “Kijkje in de Fabriek” exhibition offers a different way to explore the subject: visitors can operate a robotic arm themselves and put yarn bobbins in place. In this way, the history of carpet-making is brought to life both through historical machines and an exhibition that invites visitors to try things out for themselves.

The Stadswandeling Genemuiden also explores the town’s development. It leads through the old town centre and tells the story of the town and the origins of its present-day carpet industry. This means you can discover Genemuiden’s textile heritage not only in the museum, but also in the context of the town’s history.

City walk or your own route

The Stadswandeling Genemuiden takes a little over an hour. Along the route are Springerpark, a war memorial and the site of the former Blokhuis, which stood for only a short time. The walk connects the old town centre and the history of carpet-making with other stops along the town’s historical trail.

If you’d rather put together your own route, you can use the free Ons-Erfgoed app. It offers customisable walking and cycling routes along selected places in Zwartewaterland, including Genemuiden; you can adjust the distance. Along the way, you can discover stories, images and audio clips about local history, heritage and nature. The difference in planning is clear: the Stadswandeling takes a little over an hour, while with the app routes you can choose the distance and places yourself.

Discover more destinations: Hasselt, Zwartsluis.

Go to the main travel overview: Zwartewaterland.