Kampen

My hometown. Born and raised here. Never going to leave. I love it!

It had been a long time since I last visited Kampen (I think I must have been a teenager then and I haven’t been that for a long time!). Today I went back, together with my friend, for a self-guided walking tour around Kampen the Hanze city. Together with many other old towns in the Netherlands, Kampen was a member of the Hanze (which at its culmination had more than 150 members). Many of the old Dutch Hanze cities are – like Kampen – situated on the IJssel river.

The walking tour (you can get the booklet at the local tourist information office) was very interesting, and very well laid out.

There are several other walking tours that looked interesting but we had time only for one – so we plan to go back next week for more!

This is my hometown. It has approx. 50.000 inhabitants, it’s a small but beautifully preserved old town. Famous during the Middle Ages. Arriving by train gives you a fantastic view of the skyline with churches, towers, gates, bridges en old buildings. Worth a (short) visit!