Windmills, bakeries and possibly ghosts in Hattem
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About the Tour
About the Tour
The Netherlands is famous for its picturesque towns, but few capture the essence of Dutch heritage quite like Hattem. On this walking tour, you'll discover a perfectly preserved Hanseatic town with cobblestone streets, historical buildings, and stories that stretch back over 800 years. Once a prosperous trading centre connected to Europe via the River IJssel, Hattem's rich history is evident in its layout—from its protective canals and ancient city wall to its grand church and central marketplace.
The tour starts at the corner of Kleine Gracht and Dorpsweg, where you'll immediately spot De Fortuin, the town's impressive windmill. You'll explore Hattem's historic defenses, including the 600-year-old city wall and the Dijkpoort, the only surviving gate from the original four that once guarded the town. As you weave through narrow lanes and medieval streets, you'll discover how taxation influenced architecture, with many buildings featuring bricked-up windows—a clever response to property taxes once based on window count.
You'll visit the Bakery Museum with its tempting aromas and demonstrations, and pass by former warehouses that once stored goods traded through the Hanseatic League. Along the way, you'll encounter the Daendels House where a famous Governor General of the Dutch East Indies once lived, and see the ghostly remains of the Dikke Tinne Castle. The tour ends at the former Village Gate, completing your circuit of this charming Dutch town with its many secrets and stories.
On this 120-minute walking tour, you'll have a chance to:
- Explore De Fortuin windmill, which still produces flour on windy Saturday afternoons
- Discover the fascinating
House of Love
and learn why it earned its romantic name - Visit the Anton Pieck Museum, showcasing the beloved Dutch artist's charming illustrations
- Admire historic Dutch architectural styles, including stepped gables and hipped gables
- Walk through a native plant garden (heemtuin) created to support the local insect population
- Spot the
Frogs in Concert
sculpture, a whimsical gift from local artists - Learn about Hattem's Jewish history at the former synagogue, a poignant reminder of WWII
- See the footprint of the once-mighty Dikke Tinne Castle, dismantled in 1778
Whether you're drawn to historic architecture, Dutch cultural traditions, or simply enjoy wandering through a perfectly preserved medieval town, Hattem offers a delightful glimpse into authentic Netherlands away from the tourist crowds.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Annette
I am the Director of Culture Counsel, specialising in international art, museum and heritage initiatives.
My life has been filled with travelling and exploring since I was little, but sadly, I don’t remember much of the first big trip since I was only three at the time. It must have been a fabulous round-the-world voyage, which included passing through both the Suez and Panama Canals.
In recent years I have been living and working between the Netherlands and the Arabian Gulf. I was drawn to the Gulf to work on some new museums, and it's a real adventure. During this time, I have gotten to know many locals, and learned much about their lives, their land and their culture. Sadly, Khaleeji, the local Arab dialect still eludes me.
Having been born in Australia, I am also lucky enough to have dual citizenship, thanks to my parents who migrated there from the Netherlands. I’m told that I speak Dutch with an Australian accent and use strange old-fashioned words that emanate from Twente in the east of the Netherlands (my parent’s original base) – but I don’t believe it. It all sounds perfectly fine to me. Judge for yourself on my walking tours of Hattem and Utrecht in the Netherlands.
Creating walking tours in interesting places is a great way of enabling others to see and experience the fascinating world that we all live in.
Please join me on a tour of Sharjah in the UAE, or Gouda, Hattem and Utrecht in the Netherlands.
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 4
De Fortuin windmill
Before I tell you about the windmill have a look at the white building you just passed over the road.
It's typical of 17th and 18th century farm houses that used to operate inside the walls.
Just ... Read More
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Molen De Fortuin
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Anton Pieck Museum
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Dijkpoort
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Voerman Stadsmuseum Hattem
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Dutch Bakery Museum The Warm Land
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City Hall
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Marktplein
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Grote of Andreaskerk
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Het Hoge Huis
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Kerkplein
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start location8051 VK Hattem, Netherlands
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Total distance2km
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Final locationDijkpoort 1, 8051 BM Hattem, Netherlands
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Distance back to start location83.05m
Directions to Starting Point
If you are travelling by car take the A28 and exit at the interchange Knooppunt Hattemerbroek, then follow signs for A50/N50 toward Arnhem/Apeldoorn, and turn left at Hessenweg, drive along for 2.3km; turn right at Dorpsweg for 800m. From the A28 to the car park should take around 5 minutes.
Be mindful of village speed limits.
There is a car park on the corner of Dorpsweg and Kleine Gracht street, where the tour starts.
If you are travelling by public transport, please check the Travel Planner on the [NS website](https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information). The nearest major rail station is Zwolle, and the 203 bus (Syntus Streekbus 203, to Apeldoorn via Hattem/Heerde) generally travels every 30 minutes. Get off at at Hattem, Centrum bus stop, and walk for around 6 minutes to our starting point. Head southeast on Geldersedijk - 62 m; turn right to stay on Geldersedijk - 67 m; turn right onto Kleine Gracht - 350 m; turn left onto Dorpsweg - 18 where you will arrive at the start of the tour.
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Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
Bakery Museum, Café & Shop, Bonbon Atelier A3, De Riddershof restaurant for pancakes, cafés on the Market Square, the Wednesday afternoon market, Blom Bakers at Kerkstraat 4. Foods to try on the way: croquettes, bitterballen, pancakes, pea soup, herring, smoked eel and appeltaart.
Best time of day
Many highlights on this tour can be experienced at any time of the day or year, but it will be easier to spot details during daylight hours.
Shops are generally open Mondays to Saturdays from 9am to 6pm, and until 9pm on Fridays. They are usually closed on Sundays.
If you would like to visit any of the museums we pass on the route, please check their websites first. (Anton Pieck Museum, Bakkerijmuseum (Bakery Museum) and the Voerman Museum).
Cafés and restaurants are generally open till later.
Precautions
Given that Hattem is small, its streets are narrow and because it is a heritage zone, visitors are requested to not bring their cars in to the old centre. This of course makes it a lovely place to take a stroll with your personal guided audio tour. Its important to note though that the town centre is not fully pedestrianised, so please be careful of the occasional slowly moving car, and of course, since it is the Netherlands, do keep an eye out for bikes.
Thankfully no-one here seems to be in too much of a hurry, so you are guaranteed a really pleasant wander today.
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