Zutphen, the hidden jewel of The Netherlands

Zutphen is a city in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands. It lies some 30 km north-east of Arnhem, on the Eastern bank of the river IJssel at the point where it is joined by the Berkel  and is to my opinion a hidden jewel of the Netherlands, it's just one big museum.

The name Zutphen (first mentioned in the eleventh century) appears to mean 'zuid-veen', or in English, south-fen.

Here are just a few, less beautiful pictures to make you curious, because if you want to see the true Zutphen, you just have to look at my movie on the end of this story, I'll promise you it's worth it....

The largest and oldest church of the city is the St. Walburgis (Saint Walpurga) church, which originally dates from the eleventh century.

Lets climb this eye catcher of Zutphen, to find out what's to see below....

If you don't like heights it is a bit scary but you will get use to it....

The old Town Hall

The New Town Hall

A sentence of the Dutch Constitution in the Town Hall of Zutphen

Beautiful alleys and little streets...

De Wijnhuis Tower

A hofje is a Dutch word for a courtyard with almshouses around it. They have existed since the Middle Ages.

A hofje provided housing for elderly people (mostly women). They were privately funded, and served as a form of social security. In the Netherlands there are still a number of hofjes in use.

Hofjes are usually built in a U-shape with a yard or garden in the middle, and a gate as entrance. The shape of hofjes was most likely inspired by the (older) Begijnenhofjes -- groups of small houses inhabited exclusively by religious women.

One of the many courtyards "Hofjes" in Zutphen....

Just a few images

Zutphen also has a lot different, and speciality shops, you know what I mean; shops you don't find in every city;

Today, Zutphen is a modern small city. The urban area, which includes the village of Warnsveld, has about 51,000 inhabitants. Food shops are open from 8.30 and other stores are open from 9:30 to 18:00 (6 p.m.) on weekdays, on Friday evening until 21:00 (9 p.m.) and on Saturday until 17:00 (5 p.m.). Some stores open earlier, and the larger supermarkets usually stay open until 22:00 (10 p.m.).

Having been fortified the town withstood several sieges, specially during the wars of freedom waged by the Dutch against Spain, the most celebrated fight under its walls being the Battle of Zutphen in September 1586 when Sir Philip Sidney was mortally wounded. 

Nowadays Zutphen has one of the best preserved medieval town centres of North-Western Europe, including the remains of the medieval town wall and a few hundred buildings dating from the 13th - 15th century

Are you curious yet??? Then don't punish yourself any longer but look at the movie;

Having seen it now I assume you will never go to the Netherlands without visiting Zutphen!

See you next time, in Dubai!

Cheers!