Elburg is a historic city in the Dutch province of Gelderland. Between 1292 and 1296 Elburg was rebuilt in the form it is seen today, with a moat and a city wall, together with the straight pattern of the street plan. This rapid rebuilding was expensive, indicating that Elburg was reasonably affluent in medieval times.

City view

Understand

Housing embedded in the city wall.

Old Elburg

Elburg is a municipality and town by the Veluwemeer and Drontermeer. Elburg once was a small town living of fishing and trade located on the edge of the Zuiderzee. It is assumed that the city got its city rights between 1220 and 1271. On the fifth of September 1310 these city rights were revoked as Count Otto II of Guelders, who gave the city rights, did not have the right permissions to have done so, as he did not request the royal permission. The rights were restored and expanded upon by Count Reinald I in December 1312, giving Elburg the same set of rights as Doesburg had at the time. Several years later, in 1341, the city rights were expanded again, making Elburg equal to Zutphen. Elburg used to consist of one long main road stretching to the north, where fishermen and traders put up shop.

New Elburg

Saint-Nicolas/Great Church with its iconic flat-top tower.

On the second of October 1392 William of Gulik, Count of Guelders, ordered: "Wij willen dat sy onze stat versetten sullen op een andere stede." (We (William) order that you must move our city (Elburg) to another location). For as far as we know, there is no particular reason to move the city of Elburg. Some argue that a threat or destruction by the Zuiderzee might have been a reason to move the city, though no proof supporting that theory has been found.

This moving of Elburg could be done due to the wealth that the city had gathered as a Hanzestad. Arent tho Boecop, steward of Elburg, got a start of the new city, which had a grid-based plan, as well as a connection to the old Elburg. Part of the old city was implemented in the new city. Parts of the old main street became the Ellestraat. After the new Elburg was constructed, the church was still outside of the city, which led for a relocation of the church in 1397. The church, which was a catholic church, was built in a hurry, as only fifty years after its opening, it was scheduled for a renovation. The tower, which once had a pointed rood, burnt down after getting struck by lightning in 1693, which makes that today only the base of it stands.

During the moving of the city Elburg, not only was the city relocated, the city also was fortified as well. The city got its square moat and walls with gates. These fortifications stand to this day.

Get in

By train

The nearest train station to Elburg is 't Harde, from which you'll have to take a bus to get to Elburg, as walking will take you 90 minutes. Going by bike from 't Harde is an option as well, making your journey from 't Harde to Elburg 20 minutes long.

By bus

The most central bus stop is Elburg Centrum, at which the lines 100, 200, 514, 685 and 686 stop. Line 100 connects to Nunspeet and Zwolle, while line 200 connects only to Zwolle. Line 514 connects with the nearby train station 't Harde. Lines 685 and 686 connect to the nearer towns.

By car

When travelling by car, Elburg can best be reached via the A6 or A28. When travelling via the A6, use exit 11 (Lelystad Noord) and drive away from Lelystad using the N307. When navigating around Dronten, use the second roundabout to turn onto the N305, followed by a turn left onto the N307 at the next larger interchange. Following this road will take you straight to Elburg.

When travelling via the A28, use exit 16 ('t Harde) located between Zwolle and Harderwijk. Once you leave the highway, you will see that the route to Elburg, which is just six more kilometers away, is indicated on signs.

By boat

Elburg is located where the Veluwemeer and Drontermeer meet. It has a harbor where you can dock your ship.

• 1 Elburg Harbor (Jachtcenter Elburg), J.P. Broekhovenstraat 23, NL-8081 HB Elburg, ☏ +31 525 682 800, fax: +31 525 684 518, info@jachtcenter.nl. (updated Nov 2016)

Get around

The fortified city of Elburg, which is probably what you have come to visit Elburg for, can be naviaged on foot easily.

See

• 1 Saint-Nicolas Church (Great Church), Zuiderkerkstraat 1, NL-8081 CJ Elburg, ☏ +31 525 684 415. The Great Church was rebuilt inside of the fortified city in 1397 when its bishop granted permission. It was renovated just half a century later. The church became a protestant church at the end of the 16th century, and its tower's roof burnt away after being hit by thunder in 1693, leaving the church as it stands now. (updated Nov 2016)
• 2 Museum Elburg (City museum), Jufferenstraat 8, NL-8081 CR Elburg, ☏ +31 525 681 341. (updated Nov 2016)
• 3 National Organ Museum, Van Kinsbergenstraat 5, NL-8081 Elburg, ☏ +31 525 684 220. Located in the house named after the man that rebuilt Elburg, Arent thoe Boecop, this museum does not display any organs that have once belonged to humans or animals. Instead, it features organs used to make music. Visitors are free to try them out. (updated Nov 2016)
• 4 Museum Sjoel Elburg, Graaf Hendriksteeg 2, NL-8081 CH Elburg, ☏ +31 525 685 564. Museum Sjoel Elburg is a story-telling museum about the (non-)average day-to-day life of the Jewish families that have lived in Elburg since 1700 and offers a historical perspective to a current theme: integration and tolerance. (updated Nov 2016)
• 5 Vischpoort and Kazematten, Vischpoortstraat, NL-8081 EG Elburg. (updated Nov 2016)

Do

• 1 Walibi Holland (also known as Flevohof, Walibi Flevo, Six Flags Holland or Walibi World), Spijkweg 30, NL-8256 RJ Biddinghuizen, ☏ +31 321 329 999. late March to Late October. Theme parks with roller coasters and other thrill rides. Highlights include the Goliath, the highest, longest and tallest steel coaster in the Benelux, with max speed of 106 km/h, and the Xpress, a coaster which aunches passengers from 0 to 90 km/h in just under 2.8 seconds and features 3 loops. around €30. 

Eat

• 1 't Boothuis, Havenkade 10, NL-8081 GP Elburg, ☏ +31 525 690 054. (updated Nov 2016)
• 2 De Elburger, Beekstraat 26, NL-8081 ED Elburg, ☏ +31 525 684 424. (updated Nov 2016)
• 3 Le Papillon, Vischpoortstraat 15, ☏ +31 525 681 190. Bistro (updated Nov 2016)

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Elburg, Smedstraat 5-7, NL-8081 EG Elburg, ☏ +31 525 683 877. €102. (updated Nov 2016)
• 2 B&B Het Anker, Molenstraat 7, NL-8081 BB Elburg, ☏ +31 525 680 462. One person: €45, two persons: €65. Prices per night. Includes breakfast. (updated Nov 2016)
• 3 Recreatieoord Veluwe Strandbad, Flevoweg 5, NL-8081 PA Elburg, ☏ +31 525 681 480. (Bungalow) camping on the banks of the Veluwemeer. The camping is focussed around water sports. (updated Nov 2016)

Go next

From Elburg, you'll find that Flevoland is just a hop away, with Biddinghuizen being the closest town, and Dronten being the closest city. In Gelderland, the closest locations are Harderwijk, Zwolle, Apeldoorn and Amersfoort. Crossing the A28 means that you'll find yourself in the Veluwe forest, though the Hoge Veluwe and Veluwezoom are at the other end of the forest, a good 30 km away.

Routes through Elburg

Utrecht ← Harderwijk ←	S  N	→ Zwolle → Groningen
Amersfoort ← Harderwijk ← Nunspeet ←	W  E	→ Wezep → Zwolle