Explore Kampen in Holland
After a nice evening by the river in Kampen Holland on our road trip Holland's Hanseatic cities let's take a look at the city on the IJssel. We get a first impression on board the Het Hendrikje, which gives us an overview of the city on a trip on the IJssel. This is how they must have seen the Hanseatic merchants when they returned from their sales trips to the Hanseatic cities on the North and Baltic Seas.
Cruising in an old mail ship on the IJssel
The next morning we meet Ingela and Gerrit in the port of Kampen in Holland. The two are enthusiastic seafarers and have traveled a lot in the world. They've even been to Antarctica, Ingela tells me. Not on board a cruise ship! But sailed there myself. Crazy, right? Professionally, they take things a little easier. In 2009 they restored an old mail ship that was built in Königswinter. Since then they have been offering on board the "Het Hendrikje“Boat tours on the IJssel for groups. The two of them take half a day for us and sail with us past the cityscape of Kampen. We have the boat all to ourselves. The perfect way to experience Kampen and the IJssel. As in the film, the medieval old town passes us by.
Past old city gates, windmills and under bridges, our journey follows the course of the river. A few geese preen their feathers on the bank. A father throws the fishing rod from his fishing boat with his son. The two wave to us. The city of Kampen disappears behind us as we continue to the Molenbrug. This is how the merchants of the Hanseatic League must have felt when they set out on their trade trips to the North and Baltic Seas. The best way to experience the Hanseatic cities in Holland is on board boats.
Watch the boat traffic on the IJssel at lunch
Our boat trip makes you want more river experiences. That fits well. Because for our lunch break we get a table on the river terrace in the restaurant De Bastaard, right on the banks of the IJssel. It's exciting to watch the brisk ship traffic on the IJssel while we wait for our meal. An old sailing ship docks directly in front of us on the river bank, while in the background large container ships pass under the Stadsbrug. Some fit under the bridge. For others, the bridge has to be lifted. An interesting spectacle! The middle section of the bridge is raised using counterweights. Then all waiting ships are allowed to pass the obstacle. The middle section of the bridge then descends again. With this view, our omelette in Restaurant De Bastaard tastes even better.
That has to be in your suitcase for your visit to Kampen Holland
- Comfortable Shoes, because in Kampen you will mainly be on foot. The old town is a pedestrian zone.
- If you are planning an elegant evening, then you should bring comfortable pumps .
- Fit for a stroll on the promenade Sandals.
- A backpackwhere you can put all the utensils for a day
About tea, coffee and cigars in Kampen Holland
I cannot say whether tea, coffee and cigars were already part of the trade during the Hanseatic League. The first green tea came to Holland from China in 1610. In none of the sources that I found about the trade goods of the Hanseatic League, however, this was mentioned as the trade goods of the Hanse merchants. It is similar with coffee and tobacco. These goods came to Europe through the Dutch East Indian and West Indian Companies. That’s no reason why we don’t take a closer look at these pleasures during our stay in Kampen. Because in the city center there is a shop that specializes in exactly this. Tea, coffee and cigars are celebrated at De Eenhoorn koffie & thee and De Olifant.
A tea tasting in Kampen Holland
We take part in a tea trial at De Eenhoorn. We can try five types of tea. In a room that testifies to the wealth of merchants in Holland. However, the wall paintings date from more recent times. Grégoire Jean Josquin designed this room with his landscape paintings and still lifes in the style of the Comedia dell 'Arte. That alone makes me curious about what's to come. We shouldn't be disappointed. Did you know that oolong tea tastes of walnuts? Or that certain teas are made with ice water? I also found it interesting that tea goes well with cheese. We learn a lot during our tea tasting at De Eenhoorn. About tea and how to best enjoy it.
Cigars from Kampen in Holland
The fact that products from overseas are traded in Kampen Holland fits in well with the image of a city that is one of the Hanseatic cities in Holland. Here, too, I don't know whether tobacco was already part of the Hanseatic merchandise. The demand for this is likely to have arisen only after the end of the Hanseatic League. The Dutch had the commercial know-how long before that. Today, De Eenhoorn stores tobacco from all over the world. Chopped, and in leaf form. This is because De Eenhoorn makes its own cigars. In one part of the building there is a department in which tobacco leaves are cut and the carefully selected types of tobacco are rolled into fine cigars. Similar to how you do it in Cuba or Florida.
Or do you prefer coffee?
You can also book a coffee tasting at De Eenhoorn in Kampen Holland. We didn't have the time for that. However, I could have spent a whole day in this business alone. A shop where you can taste the pleasures of the world. However, the program urges us to continue to Deventer, the last stop on our journey through the Hanseatic cities in Holland.
Excursions and activities
- Reserve activities in Kampen and the surrounding area here*.
- From Kampen, for example, a trip to Giethorn is worth your time..
Do you like to travel by motorhome?
- Do you want to rent a motorhome? Then you will find information and a selection in these booking options here. Rent a motorhome or a camper near you here. Or would you prefer to stay overnight in a roof tent on the car? Also the overnight stay in camping tents is possible.
- Check our packing list for campers to see whether you have packed everything for your motorhome tour.
- You can stay overnight at Seveningen BV, Frieseweg 7, 8267 AD Kampen, The Netherlands. But there are other campsites near Kampen. There you can after a day trip in a Dutch Oven or on the portable grill . You can also find Dutch oven accessories here.
- Practical accessories for the mobile home you can also find here.
- Why is a folding e-bike useful when camping?
Travel Arrangements
Parking at the airport
Here you can reserve your parking space at the airport.
How to reach us
Book yours here Arrival by plane, bus or train*. KLM and Lufthansa will follow Amsterdam. From there it is best to take a car, because this is the only way you are flexible enough to get to know the towns and cities of the Kampen Holland region better.
Rental car
Cheap rental cars and e-cars - book quickly and easily here
Accomodation
Book your accommodation here *
Camping
There are a number of campsites in the vicinity of Kampen Holland. One of them is Seveningen BV in Frieseweg 7, 8267 AD Kampen. What you need for motorhome tripscan be found here. With our Motorhome packing list You'll never forget anything again.
Do you already know:
- Beautiful cities in Holland
- The island of Texel
- Harderwijk things to do
- Hasselt Netherlands
- Elburg Holland
- Deventer Holland
- Keukenhof
- Easter holidays
- Netherlands travel destinations
- Hanseatic city of Stendal - a city in the Altmark
- Coffee and culture in a café in Salzburg
- Where is the best tea time in Victoria?
- Holland landmarks
- Which rain jacket is the best?
Source for Kampen Holland: On-site research. We would like to thank Das Andere Holland for supporting this trip. However, our opinion remains our own.
Text Kampen Holland: © Copyright Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline
Photos Kampen Holland © Copyright Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline
