Hanseatic Cities Museums

In 2023, nine Dutch Hanseatic cities joined forces to celebrate the Hanseatic Year. Local museums also took part in these festivities. I visited most of the museums in these historic cities during that year. The museums featured in this blog can be found in Deventer, Doesburg, Elburg, Harderwijk, Hasselt, Hattem, Kampen, Zutphen, and Zwolle, the nine Dutch Hanseatic cities that participated in the 2023 celebrations. I didn't visit any museum worth mentioning in Hasselt.

Hanse Museum De Leeuw In Deventer

The Hanseatic city of Deventer is home to the only museum in the Netherlands that is entirely dedicated to the Hanseatic period: Hanse Museum De Leeuw. It is a must-visit attraction for anyone interested in the city's rich trading history. The museum is housed in a historic building that it shared with a hotel and a traditional sweet shop. Inside, visitors will find a fascinating collection of artifacts that bring the Hanseatic era to life. It may be closed now.

De Waag Museum In Deventer

Located on Deventer's market square, De Waag Museum is housed in a historic weighing house where goods were once weighed and traded. The museum tells the story of Deventer's history, including its role as an important trading center during the Hanseatic period. The building itself is a historical landmark and is the oldest surviving weigh house (waag) in The Netherlands.

Speelgoedmuseum Deventer

I have already written about Speelgoedmuseum Deventer in my blog "Exploring Toy Museums in the Netherlands." The museum houses an extensive collection of toys that children have played with throughout the centuries. Its exhibits provide a fascinating glimpse into the history of childhood and the changing nature of play overtime.

Geert Groote House

The last major museum worth mentioning in Deventer is Geert Groote House. In 2023, the museum featured a temporary exhibition related to contemporary social issues. Its permanent collection focuses on Geert Groote, the founder of the Devotio Moderna (Modern Devotion), a religious reform movement that emerged during the late Middle Ages. The movement promoted a simple, humble, and spiritual way of life and attracted both male and female followers. Although the museum explores the religious and historical significance of Geert Groote and his ideas, it is not affiliated with any religious organization.

Museums In Hanseatic Doesburg

There are two museums in the Hanseatic city of Doesburg that are worth mentioning. I have already written about the Public Transport and Toy Museum in my blog"Exploring Toy Museums in the Netherlands." The museum is dedicated to the history of public transportation and also features a collection of toys. The other interesting museum is the Doesburg Mustard Museum. Here, visitors can learn about the history of the famous Doesburg mustard and discover how it is produced. The museum is housed in the historic mustard factory, where traditional mustard is still made today. Visitors can also see the original machinery and learn more about the mustard-making process.

Museum De Hoefhamer In The Hanseatic City Of Elburg

Museumsmederij De Hoefhamer is well worth a visit. The museum is housed in an authentic historic blacksmith's workshop, where visitors can learn about the traditional craft of blacksmiths. At the heart of the workshop is a working forge, where iron is heated and shaped into a variety of objects. If fortunate a demonstration of blacksmith at work can be seen.

Museum Elburg Housed In The Former Agnieten Convent

Museum Elburg is housed in the former Agnieten Convent, a beautiful historic building featuring a double chapel and an inner courtyard garden. Not only is the museum's collection worth a visit, but the building itself is also an attraction in its own right. The museum's exhibits tell the story of Elburg's history and heritage, offering visitors a fascinating insight into the town's past.

Stadsmuseum Harderwijk

In the Hanseatic city of Harderwijk, Stadsmuseum Harderwijk is well worth a visit. The museum tells the story of the city's history through the lives of guests staying at a pension, each representing a different period in Harderwijk's past. The museum is highly interactive and features numerous short films that help visitors discover the people, events, and stories that shaped the city.

Nederlands Bakkerijmuseum

Although Hattem is home to an Anton Pieck Museum, I have not included it in this overview of museums in hanseatic towns, as Anton Pieck is not connected to the history of Hattem. The museum in Hattem that I enjoyed was the Dutch Bakery Museum (Nederlands Bakkerijmuseum). It is the largest bakery museum in The Netherlands and is spread across four historic buildings connected by a tunnel. The museum tells the story of bread and pastries throughout the centuries.

Two Museums In Kampen

There are two museums in Kampen that are worth mentioning. The Ikonenmuseum Kampen houses an impressive collection of icons and religious art, while the Stedelijk Museum Kampen focuses on the history of the city. The Stedelijk Museum Kampen is spread across two locations. The main site, situated in the historic city centre, is housed in the former town hall, where legal proceedings once took place. Its permanent collection tells the story of Kampen's history, from its origins to its development as an important Hanseatic city. The museum's second location is situated near the waterfront in the former synagogue. A variety of temporary exhibitions are held there throughout the year, while a permanent exhibition explores the history of the synagogue and the Jewish community of Kampen.

Museum Shop Het Snoepje

Museum Shop Het Snoepje is housed in the historic building where the insurance company De Nederlanden was founded. Although I am not particularly fond of sweets, I found it worth a visit. Both the shop itself and the traditional sweets on display offer a glimpse into the past. It is a fully functioning shop, but with its historic interior and authentic atmosphere, it feels more like a museum than a retail store.

Librije In The Walburgiskerk

In my blog"The 16 Things I Did in Zutphen," I describe my visit to the Librije in the Walburgiskerk. It is one of the best-preserved chained libraries in the world. The books were attached to chains to prevent them from being removed or stolen while still allowing visitors to consult them. Today, the Librije offers a fascinating glimpse into a time when books were rare, valuable, and carefully protected.

Two Museums Housed Together In Zutphen

The Stedelijk Museum Zutphen and Museum Henriette Polak are housed together in a former city palace. The Stedelijk Museum Zutphen tells the story of the city's history through the centuries, while Museum Henriette Polak is dedicated to modern figurative art in The Netherlands. The Stedelijk Museum presents the history and heritage of Zutphen, from its origins to its development as an important Hanseatic city. Museum Henriette Polak, meanwhile, showcases a fine collection of Dutch paintings and sculptures, with a particular focus on figurative art.

Former IJsselcentrale Harculo

The former IJsselcentrale Harculo is well worth a visit. The historic power station building has been preserved and is open to the public, offering insight into its industrial heritage. The stories of the workers who once operated the plant are brought to life through exhibitions, and temporary exhibitions are regularly organized. It is an impressive site, and there is also a hiking trail nearby.

Anno In Zwolle

Anno is the last museum worth mentioning in this blog about the museums of the nine Hanseatic cities. The museum showcases the history of Zwolle, from its origins to the present day. It also houses an archive where visitors can research aspects of the history of Overijssel. Anno is partly located in the historic Drostenhuis and partly in a modern building that was constructed in the 1990s, creating an interesting combination of old and new architecture.