Zwolle
Encyclopedia
Zwolle (ˈzʋɔlə) is a municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
and the capital city of the province of Overijssel
Overijssel
Overijssel is a province of the Netherlands in the central eastern part of the country. The region has a NUTS classification of NL21. The province's name means "Lands across river IJssel". The capital city of Overijssel is Zwolle and the largest city is Enschede...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, 120 kilometers northeast of Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. Zwolle has about 120,000 citizens.
History
Archaeological findings indicate that the area surrounding Zwolle has been inhabited for a long time. A woodhengeHenge
There are three related types of Neolithic earthwork which are all sometimes loosely called henges. The essential characteristic of all three types is that they feature a ring bank and ditch but with the ditch inside the bank rather than outside...
that was found in the Zwolle-Zuid suburb in 1993 was dated to the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
period. During the Roman era, the area was inhabited by Salian Franks
Salian Franks
The Salian Franks or Salii were a subgroup of the early Franks who originally had been living north of the limes in the area above the Rhine. The Merovingian kings responsible for the conquest of Gaul were Salians. From the 3rd century on, the Salian Franks appear in the historical records as...
.
The modern city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
was founded around 800 A.D. by Frisian
Frisians
The Frisians are a Germanic ethnic group native to the coastal parts of the Netherlands and Germany. They are concentrated in the Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen and, in Germany, East Frisia and North Frisia, that was a part of Denmark until 1864. They inhabit an area known as Frisia...
merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
s and troops of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
. The name Zwolle is derived from the word Suolle, which means "hill" (cf. the English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
cognate
Cognate
In linguistics, cognates are words that have a common etymological origin. This learned term derives from the Latin cognatus . Cognates within the same language are called doublets. Strictly speaking, loanwords from another language are usually not meant by the term, e.g...
verb
Verb
A verb, from the Latin verbum meaning word, is a word that in syntax conveys an action , or a state of being . In the usual description of English, the basic form, with or without the particle to, is the infinitive...
"to swell"). This refers to an incline in the landscape between the four river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
s surrounding the city, IJssel
IJssel
River IJssel , sometimes called Gelderse IJssel to avoid confusion with its Hollandse IJssel namesake in the west of the Netherlands, is a branch of the Rhine in the Dutch provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel...
, Vecht, Aa and Zwarte Water
Zwarte Water
The Zwarte Water is a river in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is formed just south of the city of Zwolle when two streams, the Soestwetering and the Nieuwe Wetering, merge...
. The hill was the only piece of land that would remain dry during the frequent floodings of the rivers. Zwolle was established on that incline.
A document mentions the existence of a parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
church dedicated to St Michael
St Michael
St Michael was a brand that was owned and used by Marks & Spencer from 1928 until 2000.-History:The brand was introduced by Simon Marks in 1928, after his father and co-founder of Marks & Spencer, Michael Marks. By 1950, virtually all goods were sold under the St Michael brand...
. That church, the Grote or Sint Michaëlskerk (big or Saint Michael church), was renovated in the first half of the 15th century and exists to this day. The church contains a richly carved pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
, the work of Adam Straes van Weilborch (about 1620), some good carving and an exquisite organ (1721).
On August 31, 1230, the bishop of Utrecht granted Zwolle city rights
City rights in the Netherlands
City rights are a medieval phenomenon in the history of the Low Countries. A liegelord, usually a count, duke or similar member of high nobility, granted a settlement he owned certain town privileges that settlements without city rights did not have....
. Zwolle became a member of the Hanseatic league
Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe...
in 1294, and in 1361 joined the war between the Hanseatic League and Valdemar IV of Denmark
Valdemar IV of Denmark
Valdemar IV of Denmark or Waldemar ; , was King of Denmark from 1340 to 1375.-Ascension to the throne:...
. In the 1370 Treaty of Stralsund
Treaty of Stralsund
The Treaty of Stralsund ended the war between the Hanseatic League and the kingdom of Denmark. The Hanseatic League reached the peak of its power by the conditions of this treaty....
that ended the war, Zwolle was awarded a vitte, a trade colony, in Scania
Scania
Scania is the southernmost of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden, constituting a peninsula on the southern tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, and some adjacent islands. The modern administrative subdivision Skåne County is almost, but not totally, congruent with the...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Zwolle's golden age came in the 15th century. Between 1402 and 1450, the city's Gross Regional Product
Gross Regional Product
A metropolitan area's gross regional product, i.e. GMP or GRP, is one of several measures of the size of its economy. Similar to GDP, GRP is defined as the market value of all final goods and services produced within a metropolitan area in a given period of time.-See also:*List of European...
multiplied by about six.
In July 1324 and in October 1361, regional noblemen set fire to Zwolle. In the 1324 fire, only nine buildings escaped the flames.
Zwolle was also, with Deventer
Deventer
Deventer is a municipality and city in the Salland region of the Dutch province of Overijssel. Deventer is largely situated on the east bank of the river IJssel, but also has a small part of its territory on the west bank. In 2005 the municipality of Bathmen Deventer is a municipality and city in...
, one of the centers of the Brethren of the Common Life
Brethren of the Common Life
The Brethren of the Common Life was a Roman Catholic pietist religious community founded in the 14th century by Gerard Groote, formerly a successful and worldly educator who had had a religious experience and preached a life of simple devotion to Jesus Christ...
, a monastic movement. Three miles from Zwolle, on a slight eminence called the Agnietenberg, (hill of St Agnes), once stood the Augustinian convent in which Thomas à Kempis
Thomas à Kempis
Thomas à Kempis was a late Medieval Catholic monk and the probable author of The Imitation of Christ, which is one of the best known Christian books on devotion. His name means, "Thomas of Kempen", his home town and in German he is known as Thomas von Kempen...
spent the greatest part of his life and died (in 1471).
At least as early as 1911, Zwolle had a considerable trade by river, a large fish market, and the most important cattle market in the Netherlands after Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. The more important industries comprised cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
manufactures, iron works, boat-building, dyeing and bleaching, tanning, rope-making, and salt-making.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Zwolle was single-handedly liberated by Private Leo Major
Leo Major
Corporal Léo Major was a Montrealer soldier in the Régiment de la Chaudière in World War II. He was one of only three Canadian soldiers in the British Commonwealth to be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the only Canadian to have been awarded the honour twice , and the only Allied soldier...
, a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
soldier from Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
In 2004, Zwolle's De Librije
De Librije
De Librije is a restaurant in Zwolle, Netherlands. It is a quality restaurant that is awarded one or more Michelin stars from 1993 to present. It carried one star in the period 1993-1998, two stars in the period 1999-2003 and three stars since 2004.In 2007 and 2008, the restaurant received a score...
restaurant was honored with 3 stars by Michelin Guide
Michelin Guide
The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide, the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, which awards the Michelin stars...
; as of 2007, with the demotion of Parkheuvel
Parkheuvel
Parkheuvel is a restaurant in Rotterdam, Netherlands. It is a quality restaurant that is awarded one or more Michelin stars from 1990 to present. At his top it had three Michelin stars...
from 3 to 1 star, it is one of only two restaurants so honored in the entire country.
Blauwvingers
Citizens of Zwolle are colloquially known as Blauwvingers (Bluefingers). This dates back to a local legend that the local authorities were one day strapped for cash and saw no option but to sell church bellChurch bell
A church bell is a bell which is rung in a church either to signify the hour or the time for worshippers to go to church, perhaps to attend a wedding, funeral, or other service...
s to neighbouring city Kampen. To make sure Kampen did not make too much profit from the deal, the local authorities asked a high price for the church bells. Kampen agreed to the deal, on the condition that they could choose their own way of paying for the church bells. Zwolle consented, and Kampen paid in copper coins of four duiten
Duit
The duit was a Dutch coin worth 2 penning, with 4 duit equal to one stuiver and 80 duit equal to one gulden. It was once used in the Americas while under Dutch rule....
(the equivalent of 2-and-a-half cents). Because of their distrust, Zwolle wanted to be sure Kampen had truly paid the entire price. The local authorities therefore counted the money until their fingers had turned blue from the copper.
Buildings
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
organ built by Arp Schnitger
Arp Schnitger
Arp Schnitger was a highly influential German organ builder. He was primarily active in Northern Europe, especially the Netherlands and Germany, where a number of his instruments survive to the present day; his organs can also be found as far away as Portugal and Brazil.Notable examples still in...
), there are several other historic monuments in Zwolle. The Roman Catholic Onze Lieve Vrouwe ten Hemelopneming-basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
(Our Lady Ascension) dates back to 1399. The church tower, called Peperbus (pepperbox), is one of the tallest and most famous church towers in the Netherlands. The modernized town hall was originally built in 1448.
Mention should also be made of the Sassenpoort (one of the old city gates), the city walls, the Mosterdmakerstoren (mustard makers' tower)(the complex where local mustard used to be made), a guild-house (1571), the former provincial government offices, a Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
monastery, and a museum of antiquities and natural history.
In the western part of the city, west of the railway station, there is a quarter of Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
buildings, concentrated mostly on Koningin Wilhelminasrtraat, Princes Julianalaan, and Prins Hendrikstraat. These three-store living houses were built in 1900s by variuos Dutch architects. Eleven of the buildings are protected by the Dutch government (rijksmonument
Rijksmonument
A rijksmonument is a National Heritage Site of the Netherlands, listed by the agency Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed acting for the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.-History and criteria:...
en).
Natives
- See also People from Zwolle
Arts, culture, entertainment and the media
- Hein BoeleHein BoeleHein Boele is a Dutch voice actor.Boele provides the voice of Elmo on Sesamstraat, the Dutch co-production of Sesame Street. Boele also dubbed Gobo Fraggle's voice for Fraggle Rock.-External links:...
(born November 24, 1939), actor, Dutch voice of ElmoElmoElmo is a Muppet character on the children's television show Sesame Street. He is a furry red monster and currently hosts the last full 15 minute segment on Sesame Street, Elmo's World, which is aimed at toddlers. His puppeteer, Kevin Clash, uses falsetto to produce his voice... - Jonnie Boer (born 1965), chefChefA chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
with three Michelin stars - Gerard ter BorchGerard ter BorchGerard ter Borch was a Dutch genre painter, who lived in the Dutch Golden Age.-Biography:Gerard ter Borch was born in December 1617 in Zwolle in the province of Overijssel in the Dutch Republic....
(1617–1681), painter - Tooske BreugemTooske BreugemAntonia Grietje Ragas-Breugem is a Dutch actress and television host. She played a stewardess in 06/05, a movie by Theo van Gogh about the murder of Pim Fortuyn. She was video jockey at TMF Netherlands and presented the Dutch version of Idols.-Life:Breugem was born in a Dutch Reformed family,...
(born 1974), television host actress - Herman BroodHerman BroodHermanus "Herman" Brood was a Dutch musician, painter and media personality. Initially a musician who achieved artistic and commercial success in the 1970s and 1980s, and called "the Netherlands' greatest and only rock 'n' roll star," later in life he became a well-known painter.Known for his...
(November 5, 1946–July 11, 2001), painter/rock star - Eef BrouwersEef BrouwersEvert Brouwers is a Dutch journalist, director-general and spokesman.- Life :Brouwers started his career as journalist at the Nieuwe Provinciale Groninger Courant and then as news presenter at Regionale Omroep Noord en Oost, AVRO, NOS Studio Sport, NOS and NOS Journaal.From 1977-1983 he was...
(born 1939), journalist and former head of the Netherlands Government Information ServiceNetherlands Government Information ServiceThe Netherlands Government Information Service is a Dutch government agency. The RVD is the official information service of the Dutch government and is the spokesbody for the prime minister, the Council of Ministers and the Dutch Royal House... - A. den DoolaardA. den DoolaardA. den Doolaard is the pseudonym of the Dutch writer and journalist Cornelis Johannes George Spoelstra Jr....
(February 7, 1901–June 26, 1994), author - Rhijnvis FeithRhijnvis FeithJhr. Rhijnvis Feith was a Dutch poet.He was born of an aristocratic family at Zwolle, the capital of the province Overijssel. He was educated at Harderwijk and at the university of Leiden, where he took his degree in 1770. In 1772 he settled at his birthplace, and married...
(1753–1824), author - Bennie den Haan (born February 3, 1970), actor
- Eli Heimans (1861–1914), author
- Marnix Kappers (born 1943), actor
- Master I. A. M. of ZwolleMaster I. A. M. of ZwolleMaster I. A. M. of Zwolle was an anonymous Dutch goldsmith and engraver who signed many of his works with his initials I. A. M. or I. A., and added "Zwolle" to some. His work is characterized by crowded and active scenes of people, graded tones and crisp strokes...
(c. 1440-1490), engraver - Ton KoopmanTon KoopmanTon Koopman is a conductor, organist and harpsichordist.Koopman had a "classical education" and then studied the organ , harpsichord and musicology in Amsterdam...
(born 1944), a conductor, organist, and harpsichordist - Yuri LandmanYuri LandmanYuri Landman is a Dutch experimental luthier who has made several experimental electric string instruments for a list of artists including Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth, Liars, Jad Fair of Half Japanese and Liam Finn...
(born 1973), experimental musical instrument builder, comic book artist - Robbie Muntz (born 1963), television and radio maker
- OpgezwolleOpgezwolleOpgezwolle was a Dutch rap formation consisting of MCs Sticky Steez and Phreako Rico, and beatmaker DJ Dippy Delic.-Biography:In 2001 Opgezwolle competed in a contest called "De Oogst van Overijssel"...
, rap crew
- Everhardus Johannes PotgieterEverhardus Johannes PotgieterEverhardus Johannes Potgieter was a Dutch prose writer and poet, who was born at Zwolle in Overijssel....
(1808–1875), author - Joan Remmelts (August 12, 1905–December 19, 1987), actor
- Danny Rook (born October 6, 1971), television host
- Emmy van Swoll (August 6, 1897–May 27, 1990), actor
- Bert Tigchelaar (1946–2004), journalist, news correspondent in Berlin
- Jan VayneJan VayneJan Vayne is a Dutch pianist.For his 4th birthday he got his first piano lessons, and he was winning competitions by the age of 10. In 1990 he obtained a soloists diploma from a conservatorium. Jan Vayne has released several CDs, and has performed many concerts...
(Jan Veenje) (born 1966), pianist - Charlotte WesselsCharlotte WesselsJohanna Charlotte Wessels is the lead vocalist of the Dutch symphonic metal band Delain. She was previously a member of gothic metal band To Elysium, before the band's split...
, singer of Delain - Michael MinskyMichael MinskyMichael Minsky, born Michael Spirin , also known as Mino Minzer and between Ukrainians as Myhailo Minsky) was a baritone singer, one of the finest interpreters of Russian and Ukrainian songs, and a conductor of the Don Cossack Choir Serge Jaroff.-Russian years...
(1918–1988), singer and conductor
Religion
- Johannes BuschJohannes BuschJohannes Busch was a major reformer and provost of the Augustinian monastic order. He was associated with the Brethren of the Common Life.He was born in Zwolle...
(1399–c. 1480), church reformer and provost of the Augustinian monastic order - Andreas Ignatius SchaepmanAndreas Ignatius SchaepmanMgr. Andreas Ignatius Schaepman was Archbishop of Utrecht from 1868 to 1882 and President of the Great Seminary of Rijsenburg....
(1815–1882), Archbishop of UtrechtRoman Catholic Archdiocese of UtrechtThe Archdiocese of Utrecht is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in the Netherlands. The archdiocese is the metropolitan for 6 suffragans, the dioceses of Breda, Groningen-Leeuwarden, Haarlem-Amsterdam, Roermond, Rotterdam, and 's-Hertogenbosch....
Politics
- Laurens Jan BrinkhorstLaurens Jan BrinkhorstLaurens Jan Brinkhorst is a Dutch D66 politician.Brinkhorst was an undersecretary of state of foreign affairs and a minister of agriculture. Furthermore he was the leader of the D66-group in the Second Chamber of the Dutch parliament...
(born 1937), former Minister of Economic Affairs - Joan van der Capellen tot den PolJoan van der Capellen tot den PolJoan Derk, Baron van der Capellen tot den Pol was a Dutch nobleman who played a prominent role in the formation of the Batavian Republic and the revolutionary events that preceded its formation...
(1741–1784) - Willem Johan Lucas GrobbéeWillem Johan Lucas GrobbéeWillem Johan Lucas Grobbée was a Dutch politician.-References:...
(1822–1907), Minister of FinanceMinistry of Finance (Netherlands)The Ministry of Finance is the Dutch ministry of finance: it is occupied with the national budget, taxation and financial economic policy, including supervision of financial markets...
from 1883 to 1885 - Johannes ter Pelkwijk (August 26, 1769–November 18, 1834)
- Johan Rudolf Thorbecke (1798–1872), Prime Minister of the NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(1849–1853, 1862–1866, 1871–1872)
Sports
- Jeroen DubbeldamJeroen DubbeldamJeroen Dubbeldam is a Dutch show jumping champion.-Olympic Record:Dubbeldam competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics held in Sydney, where he won a gold medal in Individual Jumping with the horse De Sjiem.-References:...
(born 1973), 2000 Olympic Equestrian championEquestrian at the 2000 Summer OlympicsThe Equestrian Events at the 2000 Sydney Olympics included Dressage, Eventing, and Show Jumping. All three disciplines had both individual and team competitions.-Medals:-Event Summary:-Riders:*Imtiaz Anees*David O'Connor *Andrew Hoy*Mark Todd... - Harry Duiven Jr. (born 1987), heavyweightHeavyweightsHeavyweights is a 1995 comedy-drama film, directed by Steven Brill and co-written by Brill with Judd Apatow. Heavyweights is about a fat camp for kids that is taken over by a fitness guru named Tony Perkis .-Plot:...
boxerBoxingBoxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds... - Marten EikelboomMarten EikelboomMarten Eikelboom is a field hockey striker from the Netherlands, who was a member of the Dutch team that won the gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney...
(born 1973), hockeyField hockeyField Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
player - Martin HaarMartin HaarMartin Haar is a retired football defender from the Netherlands, who is the current serving as assistant coach at AZ Alkmaar. He played for Go Ahead Eagles , HFC Haarlem , AZ '67 , HFC Haarlem , Sparta Rotterdam and FC Wageningen...
(born 1952), former football defender - Ron JansRon JansRon Jans is a former Dutch association football player in the role of striker, and current manager of SC Heerenveen.-Coaching career:...
(born September 29, 1958), soccer trainerAthletic trainerAn athletic trainer is a certified, health care professional who practices in the field of sports medicine. Athletic training has been recognized by the American Medical Association as an allied health care profession since 1990.... - Jo van Marle (1925–1995) president of the Royal Dutch Football AssociationRoyal Dutch Football AssociationThe Royal Dutch Football Association is the governing body of football in the Netherlands. It organises the main Dutch football leagues , the amateur leagues, the KNVB Cup, and the Dutch national football team. It is based in the municipality of Zeist.The KNVB came into being on 8 December 1889...
from 1980 to 1993, treasurer of UEFAUEFAThe Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
from 1984 to 1995 - Eric PierikEric PierikJohannes Maria Henricus Pierik is a former field hockey player from The Netherlands, who was a member of the Dutch National Team that finished sixth in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. Pierik earned a total number of 73 caps, scoring one goal, in the years 1980-1984...
(born 1959), field hockeyField hockeyField Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
player - Peter WesselsPeter WesselsPeter Wessels is a presently inactive tour professional male tennis player from the Netherlands. He has been ranked as high as 72 in the world ....
(born 1978), tennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player.
Science
- Thomas Joannes StieltjesThomas Joannes StieltjesThomas Joannes Stieltjes was a Dutch mathematician. He was born in Zwolle and died in Toulouse, France. He was a pioneer in the field of moment problems and contributed to the study of continued fractions....
(1856–1894), mathematician/civil engineer/politician
Educational institutions
Zwolle is home to several universities and colleges:- ArtezArtezArtez Institute of the Arts is a Dutch vocational university with branches in Arnhem, Enschede, and Zwolle. Artez is officially styled as ArtEZ with the A representing Arnhem, E for Enschede, and Z for Zwolle...
- Christelijke Hogeschool WindesheimChristelijke Hogeschool WindesheimWindesheim University of Applied Sciences is a Dutch vocational university. It offers multiple studies at the bachelor's level. Windesheim is home to a total of ten different schools:*School of Built Environment & Transport*School of Business & Economics...
- Deltion College Zwolle
- Hogeschool Zwolle
- Landstede Zwolle
Transportation
Road transport
Zwolle is a hub in the national highway network, and gateway to northern Netherlands. This is reflected in the high traffic volumes in and around the city. The A28A28 motorway (Netherlands)
The A28 motorway is a motorway in the Netherlands. It is approximately 188 kilometers in length.The A28 traverses the Dutch provinces of Utrecht, Gelderland, Overijssel, Drenthe and Groningen...
serves Zwolle with 4 exits, and runs from Utrecht to Groningen. It is being widened to 8 lanes across the IJssel River and 6 lanes from Zwolle to Meppel in 2010 and 2011. The motorway initially opened between 1964 and 1970. Another motorway, the A50
A50 motorway (Netherlands)
The A50 is a highway in the Netherlands, running from Eindhoven in the southeast up to Zwolle in the northeast of the country.It passes the cities of Eindhoven, close to Den Bosch, Nijmegen, Arnhem, Apeldoorn and Zwolle....
, interchanges with A28 just west of the city, offering a route for southbound traffic to Apeldoorn
Apeldoorn
Apeldoorn is a municipality and city in the province of Gelderland, about 60 miles south east of Amsterdam, in the centre of the Netherlands. It is a regional centre and has 155,000 . The municipality of Apeldoorn, including villages like Beekbergen, Loenen and Hoenderloo, has over 155,000...
and Eindhoven.
The N35 highway starts in Zwolle, and runs as a non-motorway to Almelo
Almelo
Almelo is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands. The main population centres in the town are Aadorp, Almelo, Mariaparochie and Bornerbroek....
and Enschede
Enschede
Enschede , also known as Eanske in the local dialect of Twents, is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands in the province of Overijssel and in the Twente region...
, and forms the eastern section of the ring road of Zwolle. The ringroad is mainly a 4-lane road, with numerous traffic lights. It forms a full ring, and also exists out of the N337 highway that runs to Deventer
Deventer
Deventer is a municipality and city in the Salland region of the Dutch province of Overijssel. Deventer is largely situated on the east bank of the river IJssel, but also has a small part of its territory on the west bank. In 2005 the municipality of Bathmen Deventer is a municipality and city in...
. Other sections of the ring road are unnumbered. Parts of the ring road were widened to six lanes in 2010. Other numbered highways running from Zwolle are N331 to Hasselt
Hasselt
Hasselt is a Belgian city and municipality, and capital of the Flemish province of Limburg...
, N758 to Nieuwleusen
Nieuwleusen
Nieuwleusen is a town in the Dutch province of Overijssel with 5,913 inhabitants as of 1 January 2007. At the 2001 municipal reform, most of the former municipality of Nieuwleusen was incorporated into the municipality of Dalfsen...
, N340 to Ommen
Ommen
Ommen is a municipality and a Hanseatic city in the Vecht valley of the Salland region, which is at the heart of the province of Overijssel in the eastern Netherlands. Historical records first name Ommen in the early 12th century and it was officially founded as a city in 1248...
and N764 to Kampen.
Bridges
Due to nearby rivers, there are several major bridges in and around Zwolle. The most important bridge is the IJssel Bridge where the A28 motorway runs across. It was completed in 1970 and carries over 115,000 vehicles per day. Adjacent to this bridge is the older IJssel Bridge, which opened in 1930 and was destroyed twice during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A third IJssel Bridge is the railway bridge which carries the railway line from Zwolle to Amersfoort
Amersfoort
Amersfoort is a municipality and the second largest city of the province of Utrecht in central Netherlands. The city is growing quickly but has a well-preserved and protected medieval centre. Amersfoort is one of the largest railway junctions in the country, because of its location on two of the...
, and from 2012, to Lelystad
Lelystad
Lelystad is a municipality and a city in the centre of the Netherlands, and it is the capital of the province of Flevoland. The city, built on reclaimed land, was founded in 1967 and was named after Cornelis Lely, who engineered the Afsluitdijk, making the reclamation possible...
. There are several bridges across the Zwarte Water
Zwarte Water
The Zwarte Water is a river in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is formed just south of the city of Zwolle when two streams, the Soestwetering and the Nieuwe Wetering, merge...
River, including two 4-lane bridges, a 2-lane bridge, and a bus/bicycle bridge. There is also a bridge across the Vecht, which carries A28 motorway. Another local bridge is adjacent to this bridge. A third bridge carries rail traffic to Leeuwarden and Groningen. Numerous local bridges exist around the historic city center.
Rail transport
- Zwolle railway stationZwolle railway stationZwolle is a railway station in Zwolle, the capital of the province Overijssel, the Netherlands. The station opened on 6 June 1864 and is on the Utrecht–Kampen railway, also known as the Centraalspoorweg, the Zwolle–Almelo railway, the Arnhem–Leeuwarden railway and the Zwolle–Emmen railway.The...
The first train in Zwolle arrived on June 6, 1864. Today the city has rail connections in seven directions.(viz. Kampen, Leeuwarden, Groningen, Emmen, Enschede
Enschede
Enschede , also known as Eanske in the local dialect of Twents, is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands in the province of Overijssel and in the Twente region...
, Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
/Nijmegen, and Amersfoort
Amersfoort
Amersfoort is a municipality and the second largest city of the province of Utrecht in central Netherlands. The city is growing quickly but has a well-preserved and protected medieval centre. Amersfoort is one of the largest railway junctions in the country, because of its location on two of the...
).
A rail connection with Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
via Lelystad
Lelystad
Lelystad is a municipality and a city in the centre of the Netherlands, and it is the capital of the province of Flevoland. The city, built on reclaimed land, was founded in 1967 and was named after Cornelis Lely, who engineered the Afsluitdijk, making the reclamation possible...
will open in 2012. For more information see Hanzelijn
Hanzelijn
The Lelystad–Zwolle railway, also known as the Hanzelijn , is a new Dutch railway line presently under construction. When completed, it will connect Lelystad, capital of the province of Flevoland, with Zwolle, capital of the neighbouring province of Overijssel...
.
Water transport
Zwolle is located on or near three riverRiver
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
s (Zwarte Water
Zwarte Water
The Zwarte Water is a river in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is formed just south of the city of Zwolle when two streams, the Soestwetering and the Nieuwe Wetering, merge...
, Vecht, and IJssel
IJssel
River IJssel , sometimes called Gelderse IJssel to avoid confusion with its Hollandse IJssel namesake in the west of the Netherlands, is a branch of the Rhine in the Dutch provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel...
), several canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
s (the now disused Willemsvaart, Nieuwe Vecht and Overijssels Kanaal and the modern Zwolle-IJssel Kanaal). There are some water-related industries in Zwolle, mainly in the Voorst industrial area.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Zwolle is currently twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Lünen
Lünen
Lünen or Luenen is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located north of Dortmund along the Lippe River. It is the largest town of the Unna district, and part of the green Münster area....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
In the past, Zwolle had partnerships with: Rutobwe, Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
Vologda
Vologda
Vologda is a city and the administrative, cultural, and scientific center of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the Vologda River. The city is a major transport knot of the Northwest of Russia. Vologda is among the Russian cities possessing an especially valuable historical heritage...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad is a seaport and the administrative center of Kaliningrad Oblast, the Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...