Deventer

Bergkerk

Saint Nicholas Church

The Gothic church dates from circa 1200 and stands on the highest part of the Bergkwartier. Today, it is used for concerts and exhibitions.

Bierencafe de Heks

A small pub that specialises on all kinds of beer. They have more than 70 different sorts of beer.

Mon-Thu 15:00-02:00, Fri 15:00-03:00, Sat 14:30-03:00, Sun 15:00-02:00

Bolwerksmolen

Historic windmill powering a sawmill; completely rebuilt in 2007.

Apr-Sep: Tue-Sat 09:00-17:00

Chez Antoinette

bar bodega Chez Antoinette

Portuguese restaurant, bar and bodega in the historic heart of Deventer. It is the town's evergreen—this place has been around for a long time and is rated high by the locals. Don't get fooled by its French name—this place serves truly authentic Portuguese drinks and dishes. There's a very nice bar which is open till late at night and things can get quite crowded or gezellig as the Dutch would call it. The restaurant definitely requires a booking if you want to be sure of a table. Just ring and make a reservation.

DAVO

Brewpub, plenty of beers on tap, good to have a chat, can get loud. Nice garden when the weather is good, good barfood.

De Scheg

Sports and activity centre in Colmschate. Aside from swimming pools, De Scheg also allows for ice skating and curling during some parts of the year. It also offers facilities to play squash.

Hours not standardised·Pool: €9.50; Ice rink: €8.05

Dickens Festival

The last weekend before Christmas, the annual Charles Dickens festival brings some 120,000 visitors to Deventer's Bergkwartier. Local volunteers and business owners turn the city quarter into a 19th-century town by enacting famous scenes from Dickens' novels and dress up to be Oliver Twist, Scrooge and hundreds of other characters. The rest of the city joins in the celebrations with Christmas markets and other activities, providing a lively, overall buzz. Admission is free, but count on some queueing to enter.

Het kloostertuin Buiskensklooster

Cloister Garden

Unlike the former Buiskensklooster building, a former convent now used as a city archive and library, the cloister garden is open to the public. The garden contains a few large trees and a large plant collection provided by two local residents.

Le Thai Cuisine

Those with a taste for Asian food return time and again to this local favourite. It serves a range of Thai dishes in a cosy restaurant, situated in the arched vaults of a historic mansion. For groups of 4 to 8 people, there's a free taxi service if you're staying in or directly around the city.

Mains from €16, surprise menu €32 per person

Museum EICAS

Interesting museum for modern and contemporary art, taking the Nul group and the wider ZERO movement as a starting point.

Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00·EUR 15.00

Proosdij

The Proosdij is the oldest stone house still standing in the Netherlands, having been built around 1130 AD.

Rijsterborgherpark

Vogeleiland

The park is a national monument (rijksmonument) and features works of art between the greenery, a Bird Island (Vogeleiland), a pavilion and a music pavilion.

Stadhuis

City Hall

Both the old and new city hall stand almost as neighbouring buildings. The old city hall (at #4), built in 1693, consists of different architectural styles including a neo-classic front facade. The new city hall, opened in 2016, is a copper-colored modern building built with patterned windows. Between the two city hall buildings is the Landhuis, built in 1632. An interior courtyard has access to all three buildings.

Theater Restaurant Bouwkunde

The floor above is a theatre, but the cozy downstairs restaurant serves non-theatre guests as well. High-quality produce and a love for food are their corner stones, but take into account that waiting times between courses can be on the long side.

€32

Waag

Weigh house

Deventer has its own Leaning Tower of Pisa, the 'Waag', which leans quite a lot. The museum, located within the Waag, of course features some of the best works of art from Deventer, as well as a large collection about the city itself. It also has rotating exhibitions, often of more contemporary themes to accompany the main collection.

Mon closed, Tue-Sun 11:00-17:00·18+: €9, 13-18: €2.50; <13: free

Watertoren

Water tower

This late 19th-century water tower looks as if it should belong to a fairy-tale castle rather than a water utility.

interior not open to public

Wilhelminabrug

The bridge from the movie A Bridge Too Far. In the movie, the bridge substitutes for the one at Arnhem, as its surroundings had changed a lot between Operation Market Garden and the shooting of the film.

’t Arsenaal

If the weather is nice, reserve a table on the charming inner courtyard, rather than the terrace in the front. The food is French/Mediterranean and of good quality. Service can be a bit hasty when it's busy, but is overall adequate. Good spot for a romantic dinner too.

€35

Deventer op Stelten

Deventer on Stilts

This July weekend is full of international theatre acts, including a good number on stilts. Most of the acts are performed free of charge and on stages throughout the city.

Toy Museum

Located in two late-medieval storehouses, this museum features some 13.000 items of toys used in the Netherlands, from dolls to trains to mechanical and optical toys to board games. The museum is catered to both children and adults.

EUR 7.50; age 4-18: €4. Ticket can be combined with one for the Waag museum (€12)

Broederenkerk

The Broederen Church was built in the 14th century.

Burgercafe

Burgerweescafe, Burgerweeshuiscafe

Bar of the Burgerweeshuis.

Burgerweeshuis

Concert venue.

Cafe het Glas in Lood

Homely bar with board games & beers. Pub quiz every Monday.

Thu-Mon 17:00-19:30

Deventer Koekwinkel

Bussink Koek

Brink 84

The average cake sells for a couple of euros, but bundles with Deventer Koek and other local products are available as well, with seasonal bundles selling for €15 and the average bundle coming in around the same price

Geert Groote Huis

Museum about a religious leader.

Kunstenlab

Art space: exhibitions, experiments, events.

Museum MORE

Museum for Modern Realism.

Daily 10:00-17:00

Saint Lebuïnus Church

Lebuïnuskerk

The main church of Deventer, built in Gothic style.

Nov 1-Apr 1: Mon-Sat 11:00-16:00; Apr 1-Nov 1: Mon-Sat 11:00-17:00; Sun closed·No entry fee, donations welcomed