We of thegreenlist.nl went on the road in the provincial capital of Overijssel. Why Zwolle? Because this historic fortified city scores surprisingly well if - like us - you want to follow the greener path. Think atmospheric streets, plenty of second-hand shops, cosy restaurants and streetfood that will make your vega(n) heart beat faster. In this article, we share our favourite sustainable discoveries in Zwolle. So: save these tips, grab your OV-chipcard and get inspired for a green day out.
Fun things in Zwolle on your greener path
In cooperation with Visit Zwolle
Zwolle is a charming Hanseatic city with a rich past, and it shows. As an important trading centre within the Hanseatic League, Zwolle grew in the Middle Ages into a prosperous city full of beautiful warehouses, churches and city gates. You can still feel that history as you stroll through the city centre. Walk past old city walls, historic facades and the impressive Sassenpoort. And while staring your eyes out, you stumble across contemporary coffee shops, sustainable and second-hand boutiques and bustling squares where there is always something to do. Cool! So it really feels like a mini city break in your own country, with everything nice and compact together. And that makes it ideal for a day trip! Curious? We understand! We take you along sustainable hotspots: from vintage shopping to vegan feasting.
Start your day at the Zwolle Ballet House
Once you get off at Zwolle station, you can walk into the historic city centre in just under 10 minutes. And right around the corner you'll find a perfect first stop: the Zwolle Ball House on Grote Kerkplein. This tiny shop has been selling the famous Zwolse balletjes since 1845. These are rock-hard sugar sweets, made according to a secret family recipe. What makes this place extra special? The balls are still produced according to traditional methods in the basement of the building. This is home to the last working ‘stekenbakkerij’ in the Netherlands: a place where the old-fashioned candy machine still runs once a week. A rare piece of heritage, in other words.
This first stop is not just a nice place for a local souvenir. Being so central, it is also an ideal starting point for your sustainable exploration of the city. In fact, you can also pick up a free city guide here. With a map in hand and an old-fashioned sweet in your bag, you are ready to explore Zwolle!
Zwolse delicacies and a city guide score at the Zwolse ballet house.
Second-hand shopping in Zwolle
From Zwolle's Balletjeshuis, you walk straight into the Sassenstraat, one of the city's nicest streets and the perfect place to start your sustainable city walk. This street is not only beautiful to stroll through, with its old facades and cosy atmosphere, but is also packed with second-hand shops and other sustainable addresses. In fact, Zwolle has a real Impact Trail a route along all kinds of sustainable addresses in the city. This makes it even easier to shop consciously.
Our favourites? Start at Finders & Keepers Vintage clothing / LUA. Coffee & Treats where you can score a good coffee and a vegan brownie between browsing. Continue your route towards Diva for designer clothes. Fancy colourful vintage and second-hand outfits? Then Savvy Collectives and Cream Vintage highly recommended. And of course Apple & Egg which has a beautiful, spacious shop in Zwolle with lots of everyday clothes at friendly prices.
Cool second-hand shops in Zwolle with Finders & Keepers & Lua (left), Cream (centre) and Appel & Ei (right).
Fun coffee shops in Zwolle
Fancy a coffee break? Zwolle is bursting with great coffee shops, but one place really stands out for us: Angel Shop Cafe. Here you not only drink good coffee or score a tasty lunch (with mostly organic, local and seasonal ingredients), but also shop sustainable gifts straight away. Think warm blankets made of ecological lambswool, handmade glassware from recycled materials and products made by people distanced from the labour market. Not everything on the menu is veg or vegan, but there is always plenty of choice and they are happy to accommodate dietary needs. Engel is rightly one of Zwolle's most sustainable hotspots.
Fancy discovering even more coffee shops? Other cosy spots where you can settle down nicely include: LUA-Coffee & Treats, Screaming Kitchen Maids, Sam's Coffee, Espresso bar Grind, Anne & Max and At Hartje Zwolle.
Sustainable lunch tip in Zwolle: Taboo
All that walking and browsing naturally makes you hungry. Time for lunch! And for that we recommend Taboo, arguably one of Zwolle's most relaxed lunch spots. This colourful restaurant with sunny terrace is right in the middle of the lively city centre and immediately feels like a place you want to linger. The atmosphere is laid-back and the menu diverse. You will find dishes from all kinds of international cuisines, and the great thing is: a vega(n) option is available from almost everything.
Suppen or enter the Sassenpoort? You choose!
Depending on how much time you have (and of course the weather), we have two cool suggestions for your afternoon programme. Fancy something active? Then supping through Zwolle is a must. From the water, you see the city from a totally different perspective. You paddle under bridges, along old city walls and green shores, a unique way to experience this fortified city. Rent a supboard via Lotus Zwolle or Hiawatha Active.
Is it cooler or do you prefer a short cultural stopover? Then a visit to the Sassenpoort a fat tip. This iconic medieval city gate is one of the best preserved in the Netherlands. In just under half an hour, you climb to the top, learn about Zwolle's rich history and look out over the city. The volunteers who welcome you tell you about the past with visible pleasure. Here you realise for a moment that Zwolle is actually one big open-air museum, but with very good coffee.
Tip: take your time for the Sassenstraat with its many great second-hand shops and sustainable addresses. The Sassenpoort and our coffee tip at Winkel are also on this street.
Zen moment at Lifestyle City Spa
After a day full of impressions, great finds and fine coffee and food stops, it is time to relax. And you can do so in perhaps the most luxurious way in all of Zwolle: at the Lifestyle City Spa. Right in the city centre (Thorbeckegracht 38), you book a private spa here, all to yourself (or with your travelling companion). No crowds, no shared space, you have the space all to yourself.
You will receive a personal welcome, the drinks are cold and everything you need is ready: from bathrobes and towels to slippers and a bubbly or something cold. Enjoy the Finnish sauna, luxurious whirlpool, walk-in shower with scrub temple and pamper yourself with a face mask or relaxing spa mat. Whether you come here to relax or have some energy left for yoga or meditation, here you can truly unwind. A lovely zen moment to end your day in style. Fully recharged for your last stop: streetfood At Jaffa Jaffa.
Vegetarian food in Zwolle at Jaffa Jaffa
Jaffa Jaffa is in a building with a story: an old monastery, right in the centre of Zwolle. Once, monks walked around here, later De Librije cooked here for their guests. Now you'll find a completely different atmosphere, and that's exactly what makes this place such a great tip. As soon as you step inside, it feels like walking into a hip club. The contrast with the old monastery walls makes it extra special. The outdoor seating is great too: the terrace in the former monastery garden is sunny and green, surrounded by old stones and plants. Whether you sit inside or outside, this is the place to be in any season.
The menu is as surprising as the interior. With streetfood from around the world, and plenty of veg and vegan options, this is the perfect end to your sustainable day in Zwolle. Our tip: ask if you can order a mix of mezze, so you don't have to choose between all those delicious dips. And the roasted cauliflower is also highly recommended.
Vegetarian street food at colourful Jaffa Jaffa in Zwolle is a real tip! Left: the roasted cauliflower.
A day of sustainable doing in Zwolle
Whether you come for the vintage gems, the good coffee, the city spa, a serving streetfood or just for a nice stroll around: it is surprisingly easy to do a day of sustainability in Zwolle. Everything is within walking distance, the city is full of creative and conscious entrepreneurs, and it feels like walking through an open-air museum. Save this article, grab the train and discover for yourself how much fun greener choices can be. Do you have another sustainable Zwolle discovery we really need to know about? Be sure to let us know! Who knows, we might include your tip next time!
Need more inspiration? Then take a look at these tips from locals.
More cool travel itineraries at home
- Also see: itinerary through northern Groningen!
- Also see: tips for a day out in Leeuwarden.
- Also see: Second-hand shopping tour in Tilburg!
Photo credits: thegreenlist.nl.
