This is why you want to visit the Hanseatic city of Zwolle
Zwolle is one of the most famous Hanseatic cities. The streets used to be filled with merchants, but nowadays there are mainly students, entrepreneurs and creative people walking around. With those hip people also came the hip places. Enough reasons to visit Zwollywood. One article is not enough to mention all the fun and delicious things to do in Zwolle, so take Also take a look here if you are planning to go to Zwolle.
If there's one reason to travel to Zwolle, it's because it's home to De Librije. And that's not all: starting in May 2026, you can also enjoy De Librije at Wijn Boer, an accessible wine bar run by Thérèse and Isabelle Boer. The latter will be the face of Wijn Boer, making an idea that had been traveling with the family for years a reality:A private wine bar with the freedom to let guests discover the world of wine. Not just the classics, but also the surprises. Wines with character and a story. At Wijn Boer, guests can order several special wines by the glass, in addition to a selection of world-class bottles.".
As we said: after the hip people, there are also hip places. There is no shortage of art and culture in Zwolle. Bee Museum De Fundatie you will find modern art in a historic building and at the ANNO museum you will learn everything about the past, present and future of Zwolle. The Spoorzone is the place where creative people come together. Students (including from the art academy) and product developers join forces to produce all kinds of fun things.
Hidden behind Zwolle's iconic Sassenpoort, you can start the day with a fresh cup of coffee from Anne&Max, in the oldest street in Zwolle. Anne&Max ensures that all products are pure and organic, making it good for you and for nature. The door is open for you every day, for a delicious breakfast, lunch, cakes and even for an afternoon drink, where you can enjoy the sun on the terrace, with a natural view of the historic gate.
For those who love good coffee but don't want to stop: at Anne&Max you can also get a nice coffee-to-go with something tasty to-go. Win-win!
Zwolle is the place for even more cups of coffee, a vegetarian meal or an extensive lunch. If a place, in addition to good coffee and good food, also has a catchy name, we become even more enthusiastic. Places that passed the (green) inspection include:
Villa Suikerberg – In addition to your lunch/brunch/high tea (and wine), you can also come here during the week for brainstorming sessions and meetings. It always goes better with something tasty.
Brasserie Jansen – simple dishes with an Italian/Tuscan touch, with influences from New York and of course with all kinds of home-grown inspiration? Sounds like a mixed bag? Don't worry, none other than Jonnie and Thérèse Boer (from Librije in Zwolle), so the quality of the food (and wine) is more than good.
Jantjes Lief – homemade cake, many vegetarian options and a fresh interior.
The Screaming Kitchen Girls – nostalgic, almost village-like, thanks to the old elements, the sturdy, apparently haphazardly chosen design of a mixed bag of wooden chairs and tables, the pleasant ladies behind the colorful bearer who is full of truly the tastiest cakes ever.
Wanna Waffle (sure bath we do that) – eh yes: sweet waffles with Oreo Ice-cream, savory waffles with pastrami, breakfast waffles.. All the waffles!
Sams Coffee – freshly roasted coffee in all sizes and flavors under the supervision of coffee fanatic Sam in a Scando interior.
Sara's Sweets – Pink and sweet, both the cakes and when you get a cup of coffee inside.
Every Day Bread & Coffee – this is also in Hattem. No nonsense good coffee and ditto sandwiches.
Engel Winkelcafe – a shop and café in one. Quite extensive menu with almost only local products. It's great if you leave here without buying anything.
Kaat's greenhouse – a bit outside the center is also worth it. You can get there in fifteen minutes by bike or take bus 70, and then another fifteen minutes on foot.
We will continue with all those goodies. On the (wine) balls of it Zwols Ballethuis many a man can be jealous. In addition to those balls, you should definitely try a few polka chunks at this shop filled with traditional old Dutch sweets. For a luxurious dinner, reserve a table at the Bullying hostels where in the Middle Ages patients with the plague were cared for, or at The Libre in the former women's prison (and only if your wallet can handle it).
Furthermore, the city is full of cozy cafés where you can enjoy excellent beers (or wines, if that's more your thing). Recommendations? We have!
City café Het Refter – beer tastings, high beer or high wine, local beer, cocktails and good snacks/dishes to go with it: you can easily spend a few hours here longer than you planned, especially when the sun shines on Bethlehem Church Square and the terrace is buzzing with conviviality .
The Belgian Emperor – you already guessed it; here you go on the Belgian tour. In terms of beers (many Trappists and abbey) and in terms of dishes. Stew with fries, fish pans and well-filled crocques.
The Braces – on the canal and in the old Wijndragerstoren. Here you can drink your barley drink in an old atmosphere. It is a swing-top café (ahaaa), which means that most beers are served from a swing-top bottle. Pop!
The Hot Brij – a brown café in the center of Zwolle. After much consultation, brewing and much more tasting, De Hete Brij has its own house beer: the Blonde Brij for the mild months and the Bokkige Brij when the weather calls for, precisely, a dark buck. Or order a tasting to try everything.
For that local feeling are you looking for beer from Bohemean, Hettinga Bieren or Axes Castellum monastery beer. Beer is only one part of Hanseatic history, so if you want more, it is recommended to take a ride along the city's highlights in a Fietsjoe Bicycle taxi.
Old elements from the monumental building remained, Asian, African, South American and even influences from the Middle East entered the Zwolle mix (both in the looks and in the menu). So well done, you immediately feel like you're in Bali or Tel Aviv, and we even taste a hint of Bombay... Sounds great and incredibly stunning, but what do you get on your plate? Signs actually, because at JaffaJaffa it is sharing is caring. That's great of course, because this way you can test the entire card.
A very nice, golden oldie: Grand Hotel Wientjes. This grand hotel The historic center of Zwolle used to be the home of the mayor. It has been a hotel for more than 90 years now where hospitality is of paramount importance. You can book various packages so that you no longer have to think about anything. Not even transportation, by the way, the train station is less than 250 meters from the hotel and you can be in the city center within five minutes. The most beautiful hotel? No, maybe not. But the coziness, friendly staff and location make up for that.
Or sleep in one of the three remaining city towers of Zwolle: the Pelsertoren. It is a small hotel in the monumental city wall. There are four suites, each decorated by a different designer. There is a sweet roof terrace on the roof of the tower and you could easily spend your entire weekend here with your toot in the sun (but don't do that, because there is so much to do in Zwolle!).
Photo credits Gijs Versteeg
