Kampen

Kampen is a Hanzestad at the mouth of the river IJssel, a few kilometres from the IJsselmeer (IJssel Lake) in the far northwest of the Dutch province of Overijssel.

Understand
The city of Kampen, which boasts one of the best preserved old city centres in the Netherlands, dates back to the 12th century. Its position close to the mouth of the Ijssel River (which flowed into the Zuider Zee) gave it sheltered anchorage and as such, it became a trading centre. It received city rights in 1236 and which joined the Hanseatic League in 1441. The city suffered a decline from about 1600 onwards due to the Ijssel silting up. In the 19th century, partial damming of the river resulted in the river's stream becoming more concentrated and scouring the silt enabling it to re-establish itself as a port. During the 19th century, a cigar industry became established, but after the Second World War, with the advents of cigarettes this industry collapsed.

By train
You can get to Kampen by train by heading for Zwolle. There you will have to switch to a train heading for Kampen. Make sure that you take the right train, as Kampen has two stations bearing its name:, which is the main station, and , which serves Kampen's suburbs and is located on a different line. Make sure that you use the train heading for Kampen, and not the one heading for Kampen Zuid and Lelystad.

By bus
Kampen can be reached by bus using lines 141 when coming from Zwolle, Emmeloord or Urk, line 143 when coming from Dronten or Lelystad. The Hanzeliner (line 330) does stop in Kampen, however unlike lines 141 and 143, it does not stop at the Kampen train station, but instead at the Carpool Parking N50 at the city's edge.

By car
Kampen lies by the N50, which can be reached by using the A6 up to Emmeloord, where you turn onto the N50 at Knooppunt Emmeloord. This is the best route when leaving from the Western Netherlands (Amsterdam, Schiphol, The Hague) or the Northern Netherlands (Leeuwarden, Groningen).

When coming from the East (including Germany) or the South (including Belgium), head for Arnhem, where, once having reached the city, you turn onto the A50 heading for Apeldoorn and Zwolle. At Knooppunt Hattemerbroek, just before Zwolle, you continue driving on the same highway, which becomes the N50, which will get you straight to Kampen.

See
Kampen has many old and very old buildings, amongst which are the remains of the gates through the old city wall (Koornmarktspoort, Cellebroederspoort and Broederspoort), as well as the Bovenkerk or, as it is more commonly known, the Sint-Nicolaaskerk. The outlines of the city wall is still easily visible in the fortifications and street lay-out.
 * Throughout the city centre of Kampen you will find tens of painted wall adverts. These refer to many shops in Kampen, of which most no longer exist. These colourful murals have Jugendstil influences. The murals are referred to as the frescoes of the middle class.
 * Throughout the city centre of Kampen you will find tens of painted wall adverts. These refer to many shops in Kampen, of which most no longer exist. These colourful murals have Jugendstil influences. The murals are referred to as the frescoes of the middle class.
 * Throughout the city centre of Kampen you will find tens of painted wall adverts. These refer to many shops in Kampen, of which most no longer exist. These colourful murals have Jugendstil influences. The murals are referred to as the frescoes of the middle class.
 * Throughout the city centre of Kampen you will find tens of painted wall adverts. These refer to many shops in Kampen, of which most no longer exist. These colourful murals have Jugendstil influences. The murals are referred to as the frescoes of the middle class.
 * Throughout the city centre of Kampen you will find tens of painted wall adverts. These refer to many shops in Kampen, of which most no longer exist. These colourful murals have Jugendstil influences. The murals are referred to as the frescoes of the middle class.
 * Throughout the city centre of Kampen you will find tens of painted wall adverts. These refer to many shops in Kampen, of which most no longer exist. These colourful murals have Jugendstil influences. The murals are referred to as the frescoes of the middle class.
 * Throughout the city centre of Kampen you will find tens of painted wall adverts. These refer to many shops in Kampen, of which most no longer exist. These colourful murals have Jugendstil influences. The murals are referred to as the frescoes of the middle class.
 * Throughout the city centre of Kampen you will find tens of painted wall adverts. These refer to many shops in Kampen, of which most no longer exist. These colourful murals have Jugendstil influences. The murals are referred to as the frescoes of the middle class.
 * Throughout the city centre of Kampen you will find tens of painted wall adverts. These refer to many shops in Kampen, of which most no longer exist. These colourful murals have Jugendstil influences. The murals are referred to as the frescoes of the middle class.
 * Throughout the city centre of Kampen you will find tens of painted wall adverts. These refer to many shops in Kampen, of which most no longer exist. These colourful murals have Jugendstil influences. The murals are referred to as the frescoes of the middle class.
 * Throughout the city centre of Kampen you will find tens of painted wall adverts. These refer to many shops in Kampen, of which most no longer exist. These colourful murals have Jugendstil influences. The murals are referred to as the frescoes of the middle class.

Do

 * The Kamperui(t)dagen is a large fair taking place for multiple (4-5) Thursdays in the summer months. It is ended with a firework show. The last (or second-to-last) weekend before Christmas the festival Kerst in Oud Kampen takes place, with sung and dance routines aimed at recreating the atmosphere of the 19th century.