Deventer

Deventer is a town in the province of Overijssel, located on both banks of the river IJssel and home to about 100,000 people today. The old center includes several squares, among them the central Brink, where the medieval weighing house and the town hall stand, as well as residential and commercial streets that extend from there toward the riverbanks.

In the early Middle Ages a missionary settlement arose here that later gained minting rights and town privileges and remained part of the Hanse until the 17th century. After the decline of Baltic trade the town continued to grow through textile production and regional markets, before it was connected to the railway network in the 19th century.

The city name comes from the river bend where the first settlement formed, and many street names in the old quarter still recall the merchants and guilds of medieval times. Visitors see along the riverside promenade gabled houses and patrician villas that show how wealthy traders organized their living quarters above the storerooms, keeping watch over the flow of goods.

The town is reached by train from Amsterdam or Arnhem and via several motorways from the direction of Germany, and pedestrians orient themselves by the river or the central square to explore the lanes of the old core. Many streets are cobbled, and some houses have high doorsteps, so comfortable footwear is helpful.

Every year in August the center transforms into a 15th-century setting where local people wear historical costumes and demonstrate old crafts, while visitors walk streets free of modern cars or signs. This multi-day event draws thousands of spectators who stroll through lanes where blacksmiths swing their hammers and bakers knead bread using old recipes.

Location: Overijssel

Capital city: Deventer

Elevation above the sea: 9 m

Shares border with: Rijssen-Holten, Lochem, Voorst

Phone: +310570

Email: gemeente@deventer.nl

Website: https://deventer.nl

GPS coordinates: 52.25000,6.20000

Latest update: December 13, 2025 18:57