IJssel River Promenade

The IJssel river promenade in Deventer is the path along the water on the edge of the old town, and it is a good way to see the city from its historic front door. Deventer is one of the Hanseatic towns of the IJssel, and for centuries the river was its main connection to the world: boats brought goods from the Rhine and the Zuiderzee to the quays, and the town grew rich on trade. The riverfront is still the part of Deventer that tells that story most clearly, with a long line of old warehouses and houses facing the water.

The IJssel is one of the main branches of the Rhine in the Netherlands, flowing north from Arnhem to the former Zuiderzee, and its width and its steady current give it a calm, powerful presence. The promenade is a flat, well-kept path suitable for walking, jogging and cycling, and from it you can watch barges pass, look across to the meadows of the far bank and see the skyline of the old town, with the towers of the Lebuïnuskerk and the Bergkerk rising behind the waterfront. In late afternoon the light on the water and the old brick is especially attractive, and many people come at this time for a stroll. A bridge links the two banks, and boat trips run in the season.

The promenade connects easily with other parts of the city. From it you can reach the Brink, the old market square with the Waag, the weighing house, and the streets of the old centre, which are full of cafes, bookshops and small museums. Deventer is known for its book market, the biggest in Europe, held on the first Sunday of August, and for Deventer koek, a local spiced gingerbread cake that has been made for centuries and is sold in shops around the centre. The Bijzondere Collectie, the special collections library, the city walls, St. Agatha's Monastery and the Lebuïnuskerk are other places to see, and the Deventer Light Festival lights up the centre in winter.

The river walk is free and open at all times. It is pleasant in every season, though the winter wind off the water can be cold, and in high water the floodplains on the far side may be partly under water, which is an impressive sight. Cycling routes continue along the dikes in both directions into the countryside.

The promenade suits walkers, cyclists, photographers and anyone who wants a quiet break in the city. Allow an hour, and combine it with a visit to the centre.