Zwolle

Zwolle as a Hanseatic city: This success story has lasted for about three centuries. An economic crisis and the waning influence of cities vis-à-vis countries were the death knell of the fairy tale of trade. However, don't worry, because you can't just erase the legacy of three centuries of medieval glory. Many Hanseatic cities prove this to this day, in the presence of the most imaginative historic buildings. One of the most striking in Zwolle is the Sassenpoort. This majestic city gate dates back to the early 1400s, when the city had just joined the Hanseatic League. No expense was spared to impress with an impressive entrance.

From high up in the sky, this city gate has seen the times change. If you walk in Zwolle today, it only takes some imagination and a look up to taste the rich history. Modern shops have replaced the medieval commercial buildings. But the historic Gothic stepped gables of ornate trading houses still radiate as proudly as they did centuries ago.

Zwolle is one of the great Hanseatic cities in the Middle Ages. When Amsterdam and Rotterdam were still meaningless villages, Zwolle shone as an imposing city. The beautiful buildings in the medieval city centre still bear witness to the enormous prosperity of that time. Hypermodern in the Middle Ages, but even today there is a hip atmosphere. Colleges attract students and entrepreneurs and creatives provide dynamism. We don't understand why such a city with this history and dynamism is not better known in Flanders.

Kenneth Colpaert