Zwolle (Dutch:[ˈzʋɔlə]^ⓘ) is acity andmunicipality in the NortheasternNetherlands. It is thecapital of theprovince ofOverijssel and the province's second-largest municipality, afterEnschede, and has a population of 132,441 as of December 2023. Zwolle borders the province ofGelderland and lies on the eastern side of the RiverIJssel.

Zwolle
City andmunicipality
Sassenstraat Grote Markt Museum de Fundatie Luttekestraat Binnenstad
Flag Coat of arms Brandmark
Location in Overijssel
Zwolle Location within the Netherlands Show map of Netherlands Zwolle Location within Europe Show map of Europe
Coordinates:52°31′N6°6′E / 52.517°N 6.100°E /52.517; 6.100
Country	Netherlands
Province	Overijssel
Government [1]
• Body	Municipal council
• Mayor	Peter Snijders (VVD)
Area [2]
• Municipality	119.36 km2 (46.09 sq mi)
• Land	111.10 km2 (42.90 sq mi)
• Water	8.26 km2 (3.19 sq mi)
Elevation [3]	4 m (13 ft)
Population  (Municipality, January 2021; Urban and Metro, May 2014)[4][5]
• Municipality	129,840
• Density	1,169/km2 (3,030/sq mi)
• Urban	123,507
• Metro	181,440
Demonym	Zwollenaar
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode	8000–8049
Area code	038
Website	www.zwolle.nl
Click on the map for a fullscreen view

Archaeological findings indicate that the area surrounding Zwolle has been inhabited for a long time. Awoodhenge that was found in the Zwolle-Zuid suburb in 1993 was dated to theBronze Age period.^[6][7] During the Roman era, the area was inhabited bySalian Franks.

The modern city was founded around 800 CE byFrisian merchants and troops ofCharlemagne.^[8] Previous spellings of its name include the identically pronouncedSuolle, which means "hill" (cf. the Englishcognateverb "to swell"). This refers to an incline in the landscape between the four rivers surrounding the city,IJssel,Vecht, Aa andZwarte Water. The hill was the only piece of land that would remain dry during the frequent floodings of the rivers. Zwolle was established on that incline.

A document mentions the existence of a parish church dedicated toSt Michael. That church, the Grote of Sint Michaëlskerk (St. Michael's church), was renovated in the first half of the 15th century and exists to this day. The church contains a richly carvedpulpit, the work of Adam Straes van Weilborch (about 1620), some good carving, and an exquisiteBaroque organ from 1721 designed by master organ builderArp Schnitger and completed by his sons Franz Caspar and Johann Georg.

On 31 August 1230, the bishop ofUtrecht granted Zwollecity rights. Zwolle became a member of theHanseatic league in 1294, and in 1361 joined the war between the Hanseatic League andValdemar IV of Denmark. In the 1370Treaty of Stralsund that ended the war, Zwolle was awarded avitte, a trade colony, inScania, then part ofDenmark. Zwolle's golden age came in the 15th century. Between 1402 and 1450, the city'sGross Regional Product multiplied by about six.^[9]

In July 1324 and October 1361, regionalnoblemen set fire to Zwolle. In the 1324 fire, only nine buildings escaped the flames.^[10]

Zwolle was also, withDeventer, one of the centers of theBrethren of the Common Life, amonastic movement. 5 km (3 mi) from Zwolle, on a slight eminence called the Agnietenberg, (hill of St Agnes), once stood the Augustinian convent in whichThomas à Kempis spent the greatest part of his life and died (in 1471).^[11]

At least as early as 1911, Zwolle had a considerable trade by river, a large fish market, and the most important cattle market in the Netherlands afterRotterdam. The more important industries comprised cotton manufactures, iron works, boat-building, dyeing and bleaching, tanning, rope-making, and salt-making.^[11]

InWorld War II, Zwolle was single-handedly liberated from the Germans by Canadian soldierLéo Major.^[12][13] He was made anhonorary citizen of Zwolle on 14 April 2005, the 60thanniversary of his liberating of the city. He also has a street named after him, Leo Majorlaan.^[14][15][16]

In 2004, Zwolle'sDe Librije restaurant was honored with 3 stars byMichelin Guide; as of 2018, it is one of only three restaurants so honored in the entire country.^{[citation needed]}

In 2023,Tewelde Goitom, an Eritrean convicted in Ethiopia of migrant smuggling, kidnapping in Sinai and human trafficking appeared at a pretrial hearing in Zwolle, which made international headlines.^[17]

Citizens of Zwolle are colloquially known asBlauwvingers (Bluefingers). According to legend, the name dates back to 1682, when the St Michael's church tower collapsed. The authorities were strapped for cash and saw no option but to sell thechurch bells to the neighbouring cityKampen. To make sure that Kampen would not make too much profit from the deal, the local authorities asked a high price for the church bells. Kampen accepted, but when the bells arrived it became clear that they were too damaged to be played. In revenge, Kampen paid in copper coins of fourduiten (the equivalent of two-and-a-halfcents). Zwolle distrusted Kampen and wanted to be sure they truly paid the entire price. After the meticulous counting of the vast number of copper coins, their fingers had turned blue.^[18][19]

In reality, the name Blauwvinger stems from 1521, when the governors of Zwolle broke the oath of loyalty they made to the Duke of Gelre. The name Blauwvinger refers to the raised fingers with which the governors had promised their loyalty to the Duke at his inauguration. At that time, Zwolle and Kampen were embroiled in a dispute over toll collection on the IJssel River. Zwolle initially aligned with the Duke of Gelre, Charles of Egmont, but eventually returned to the Bishop of Utrecht. During this period of political unrest, Duke Charles of Gelre was captured when he entered Zwolle. Ultimately, he was allowed to depart under the condition that Zwolle would retain its independence. The name Blauwvingers stems from the fact that the residents committed perjury twice, first to the bishop and then to the duke.^[20]

Besides the Grote of Sint Michaëlskerk (St. Michael's church), the latter which houses a majesticBaroque organ built byArp Schnitger, there are several other historic monuments in Zwolle. The Roman CatholicOnze Lieve Vrouwe ten Hemelopneming-basilica (Our Lady of the Assumption) dates back to 1399. The church tower, calledPeperbus (pepperpot), is one of the tallest and most famous church towers in the Netherlands. The modernizedtown hall was originally built in 1448.^[11]

Mention should also be made of theSassenpoort (one of the old city gates), the city walls, theMosterdmakerstoren (mustard makers' tower) (the complex where local mustard used to be made), a guild-house (1571), the former provincial government offices, aDominican monastery, and on the Melkmarkt, two museums; theStedelijk Museum Zwolle of antiquities and natural history, and theVrouwenhuis.Museum de Fundatie, the fine art museum of the province of Overijssel, is hosted in the former Justice Hall on Blijmarkt Square.

In the western part of the city, west of the railway station, there is a quarter ofArt Nouveau buildings, concentrated mostly on Koningin Wilhelminastraat, Prinses Julianastraat, and Prins Hendrikstraat. These three-store living houses were built in 1900s by various Dutch architects. Eleven of the buildings are protected by the Dutch government (rijksmonumenten).

TheBroerenkerk church was part of theDominican monastery founded in 1465. The monastery was closed in 1580 and the monks were expelled. From 1640 until 1982 the church was used for Protestant services. After a restoration in 1983–1988 it has been used for cultural events and it is now a bookstore.^[21][22]

•  
  Thorbeckegracht and Wijndragerstoren
•  
  Peperbus from the Eekwal
•  
  Praubstraat, inner city
•  
  Sassenpoort
•  
  Thorbeckewal and Vispoortbridge
•  
  TheRich Friar House a center of theDevotio Moderna and later the home of Willem Bartjens
•  
  View of Zwolle city centre
•  
  The organ in Broerenkerk
•  
  Herman Brood Museum & Experience
•  
  The Art Nouveau gate at Prins Hendrikstraat 1-3-5. 1902, architect Geurt Gijsbertus Post
•  
  Fountain near Museum de Fundatie

See alsoPeople from Zwolle

Arts, culture, entertainment and the media

• Willem Victor Bartholomeus (1825–1892), organist and conductor
• Hein Boele (born 1939), actor, Dutch voice ofElmo
• Jonnie Boer (born 1965), chef with three Michelin stars
• Gerard ter Borch (1617–1681), painter^[23]
• Gerard ter Borch the Elder (1583–1662), painter
• Moses ter Borch (1645–1667), painter
• Rolf Bremmer (born 1950), scholar of Old Frisian, and of Old and Medieval English
• Tooske Breugem (born 1974), television host actress
• Herman Brood (1946–2001), painter/rock star
• Funda Eryiğit (born 1984), Turkish actress
• Willem Grasdorp (1678–1723), painter
• Aleida Greve (1670–1742), painter
• Anna Cornelia Holt (1671–1692), painter
• Sophia Holt (1658–1734), painter
• Antonina Houbraken (1686–1736), draughtswoman
• Marnix Kappers (1943–2016), actor
• Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380–1471), canon and mystic
• Master I. A. M. of Zwolle (c. 1440–1490), engraver
• Ton Koopman (born 1944), a conductor, organist, and harpsichordist
• Yuri Landman (born 1973), experimental musical instrument builder, comic book artist
• Cornelia van Marle (1661–1698), painter
• Michael Minsky (1918–1988), singer and conductor
• Leonard van Munster (born 1972), artist
• Opgezwolle (since 2001), rap crew
• Jan Vayne (Jan Veenje) (born 1966), pianist
• Charlotte Wessels (born 1987), former singer forDelain
• Aleijda Wolfsen (1648–1692), painter

Authors

• Eef Brouwers (1939–2018), journalist and former head of theNetherlands Government Information Service
• A. den Doolaard (1901–1994), author
• Rhijnvis Feith (1753–1824), author
• Everhardus Johannes Potgieter (1808–1875), author

Business

• Willem Jan van Dedem (1776–1851), landowner and founder of the canal and town of Dedemsvaart^[24]
• Hendrikus Jacobus Gorter (1874-1918), ice skates manufacturer, cyclist and speed skater^[25]

Religion

• Johannes Busch (1399–c. 1480), church reformer and provost of the Augustinian monastic order
• Alanus de Rupe (1428–1475), Roman Catholic theologian and Dominican promotor of therosary
• Andreas Ignatius Schaepman (1815–1882),Archbishop of Utrecht

Politics

• Laurens Jan Brinkhorst (born 1937), formerMinister of Economic Affairs
• Joan van der Capellen tot den Pol (1741–1784), role in theBatavian Republic
• Wybo Fijnje (1750–1809), Mennonite minister, publisher, exile, coup perpetrator, politician
• Willem Johan Lucas Grobbée (1822–1907),Minister of Finance from 1883 to 1885
• Johannes van Heerdt tot Eversberg (1829–1893), former governor of Suriname and Curaçao^[26]
• Piet Kasteel (1901–2003), ambassador and former governor of Curaçao^[27]
• Johan Rudolf Thorbecke (1798–1872),Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1849 - 1853, 1862 - 1866, 1871 - 1872)^[28]

Sports

• Anna van der Breggen,Olympic andWorld Champion cyclist
• Jeroen Dubbeldam (born 1973),2000 Olympic Equestrian champion
• Marten Eikelboom (born 1973),hockey player
• Maarten Grobbe (1901–1961), football player
• Martin Haar (born 1952), former football defender and current trainer
• Rinus Israël (born 1942), former football player and current scout
• Ron Jans (born 1958), former football player and currentcoach
• Bert Konterman (1971), football player
• Hennie van Nee (1939–1996), football player
• Eric Pierik (born 1959),field hockey player
• Tijjani Reijnders (born 1998), football player
• Johnny Rep (born 1951), football player
• Piet Schrijvers (1946–2022), football player
• Johannes Smeekens (born 1987), Olympicspeedskater
• Jaap Stam (born 1972), former football player and current coach
• Gerrit Voges (1932–2007), football player
• Peter Wessels (born 1978),tennis player

Science

• Christianus Carolus Henricus van der Aa (1718–1793), secretary of the Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities
• Derk-Jan Dijk (Born 1958), researcher of sleep and circadian rhythms
• Thomas Joannes Stieltjes (1856–1894), mathematician, civil engineer and politician

Zwolle is home to several universities of applied sciences and colleges:

• Artez
• Christelijke Hogeschool Windesheim
• Deltion College Zwolle [nl]
• Hogeschool Zwolle [nl]
• Landstede Zwolle
• Cibap Zwolle [nl]
• Groene Welle Zwolle [nl]
• Hogeschool viaa [nl]
• Thorbecke Scholengemeenschap [nl]
• Windesheim Honours College

Nearly half of all trips in Zwolle were cycled as of 2013.^[29]

Zwolle is a hub in the national highway network, and gateway to northern Netherlands. This is reflected in the high traffic volumes in and around the city. TheA28 serves Zwolle with 4 exits, and runs fromUtrecht toGroningen. It is being widened to 8 lanes across theIJssel River and 6 lanes from Zwolle to Meppel in 2010 and 2011. The motorway initially opened between 1964 and 1970.^[30] Another motorway, theA50, interchanges with A28 just west of the city, offering a route for southbound traffic toApeldoorn andEindhoven.

TheN35 highway starts in Zwolle, where it forms the eastern section of the ring road of Zwolle, it runs as a non-motorway toAlmelo and continues toEnschede asA35 motorway. The ringroad is mainly a 4-lane road, with numerous traffic lights. It forms a full ring, and also exists out of theN337 highway that runs toDeventer. Other sections of the ring road are not numbered. Parts of the ring road were widened to six lanes in 2010. Other numbered highways running from Zwolle areN331 toHasselt,N758 toNieuwleusen,N340 toOmmen andN764 toKampen.

Due to nearby rivers, there are several major bridges in and around Zwolle. The most important bridge is the IJssel Bridge where the A28 motorway runs across. It was completed in 1970 and carries over 125.000 vehicles per day. Adjacent to this bridge is the older IJssel Bridge, which opened in 1930 and was destroyed twice duringWorld War II. A third IJssel Bridge is the railway bridge (called Hanze boog) which carries the railway line from Zwolle toAmersfoort, and from 2012, toLelystad. There are several bridges across theZwarte Water River, including two 4-lane bridges, a 2-lane bridge, and a bus/bicycle bridge. There is also a bridge across theVecht, which carries A28 motorway. Another local bridge is adjacent to this bridge. A third bridge carries rail traffic toLeeuwarden andGroningen. Numerous local bridges exist around the historic city center.

• Zwolle railway station

The first train in Zwolle arrived on 6 June 1864. Today the city hasrail connections in eight directions (viz.Kampen,Leeuwarden,Groningen,Emmen,Enschede,Arnhem/Nijmegen,Lelystad/Amsterdam, andAmersfoort).

Therail connection withAmsterdam viaLelystad – theHanzelijn – is operational since December 2012.

The second station,Zwolle Stadshagen, was opened on 15 December 2019.

Zwolle is located on or near three rivers (Zwarte Water,Vecht, andIJssel), severalcanals (the now disused Willemsvaart, Nieuwe Vecht and Overijssels Kanaal and the modern Zwolle-IJssel Kanaal). There are some water-related industries in Zwolle, mainly in the Voorst industrial area.

Zwolle is currentlytwinned with:

•  Lünen, Germany

In the past, Zwolle had partnerships with:^{[citation needed]}

•  Érsekhalma, Hungary
•  Rutobwe, Rwanda
•  Vologda, Russia
•  Kaliningrad, Russia

There is also a small rural town in the U.S. State ofLouisiana named afterZwolle. The two cities maintain close informal ties.^[31]

• Lourens, Piet; Lucassen, Jan (1997).Inwonertallen van Nederlandse steden ca. 1300–1800. Amsterdam: NEHA.ISBN 9057420082.

•   Media related toZwolle at Wikimedia Commons
•  Zwolle travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Official website