Deventer City Guide
Image by Bart Ros via unsplash

Netherlands

Deventer City Guide

Overijssel

Deventer is a historic city in Overijssel, known for its medieval center along the IJssel River. It has a relaxed vibe with a focus on sustainability and culture. The city blends old charm with modern conveniences.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Good
7

Offers Dutch and international food. Try Deventer Koek. Vegetarian and vegan options exist. Limited late-night food options.

Local Dishes:
Deventer Koek
International Cuisine:
Italian, Indonesian, Asian cuisine
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Good
6

Nightlife focuses on bars and cafes around the historic center, offering a cozy atmosphere rather than clubs.

Coffee Culture
Good
7

Growing coffee scene with cafes known for quality and good atmosphere, like Toast and Coffee Together.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

Tipping is not required but appreciated. Round up bills or tip 5-10% in restaurants. Taxi tips usually rounding up.

Top Attractions
De Brink Square
Historic
Historic center with markets and cafes
Lebuinuskerk
Historic
Gothic church with climbable tower
Bergkerk
Historic
Historic church
De Waag
Museum
Old weigh house now a museum
Hanseatic Museum Deventer
Museum
Museum about Hanseatic history
Toy Museum Deventer
Museum
Collection of vintage toys
IJssel Promenade
Outdoor
Riverside walk
Bergkwartier
Historic
Medieval neighborhood
Athenaeum Library
Library
Oldest scientific library in the Netherlands
SIM Cards

SIM cards can be bought in phone shops or supermarkets after ID registration. Providers include KPN, Vodafone, and Odido. eSIMs available from some providers.

Available at:
KPN stores
Vodafone stores
Odido stores
Supermarkets
Recommended Apps
9292(Transport)
NS app(Transport)
Thuisbezorgd.nl(Food)
Tikkie(Finance)
Buienradar(Weather)
Google Maps(Navigation)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Excellent
8

City is clean with good waste management and recycling systems.

24/7 Services
Limited
4

Limited 24/7 options. Some pharmacies are on call. Minimarts open late at gas stations. Few late-night food spots.

Groceries
Albert Heijn
Jumbo
Lidl

Major supermarkets carry international products. Common chains are Albert Heijn, Jumbo, and Lidl. Hours usually run 8 AM to 8 or 9 PM on weekdays, shorter on weekends.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

Card payments are common and accepted almost everywhere. Cash is rarely needed for daily use.

ATMs

ATMs are easy to find throughout the city. Withdrawal fees depend on your home bank.

Schools
Local only

Local Dutch schools are available. No major international schools in Deventer but options exist in nearby larger cities.

Available Schools:
Local Dutch schools

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
7
Available Spaces:
Regus Deventer
Hot desks, dedicated desks, meeting rooms, flexible terms, high-speed WiFi
Easy Offices
Office spaces, virtual offices, meeting rooms with flexible agreements
FlexOfficeAgency
Shared and private workspaces with flexible leases
Work-Friendly Cafés
Excellent
Toast
Fast WiFi, power plugs, good coffee with vegan options
Coffee Together
Work/study mezzanine, cozy vibe, free WiFi
Mr. & Mr. Espressobar
Good coffee, WiFi, power outlets in a snug setting
Bagels & Beans
Popular spot, comfortable for working with food options
Alternatives:
Athenaeum Library
Quiet space for focused work or study
Hotel lobbies
Comfortable seating and WiFi in some hotels (check locally)
Digital Nomad Community
Limited
4

Smaller nomad community than major cities but offers coworking and work-friendly cafes.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Excellent
8

Good access to parks and riverbanks like Worpplantsoen and Rijsterborgherpark for walking and relaxation.

Running
Excellent
8

Safe running routes along IJssel River and parks; air quality generally good.

Gyms
Available

Several gyms and sports centers are available, some with swimming and ice skating facilities.

Available Gyms:
Basic-Fit Deventer
Sportcentrum De Scheg
Tennis
Good
6

Tennis courts at local clubs with rental and coaching options.

Padel
Limited
5

Padel courts available at sports clubs for hourly use.

Yoga
Good
6

Several yoga studios offer various classes, some in English.

Martial Arts
Limited
5

Local dojos offer judo, karate, and kickboxing. Specific info on other styles is limited.

Skiing
Poor
1

No natural skiing; nearby indoor ski halls exist but not in Deventer.

Water Sports
Good
6

Kayaking, paddleboarding, and sailing on the IJssel River and nearby lakes.

Surfing
Poor
1

No ocean surfing near Deventer; inland water sports may be available.

Diving
Poor
2

Some freshwater diving possible in lakes nearby but limited.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Excellent
9

Healthcare is high quality with many English-speaking staff. For emergencies dial 112, non-emergencies contact a GP. Pharmacies have limited evening hours and on-call service available.

Hospitals:
Local hospitals
Pharmacies:
Local pharmacies
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water is clean, safe, and directly drinkable.

Common Scams
Taxi overcharging and refusing meters, Fake accommodation listings, Fake police officers asking to check money, Pickpocketing in crowded spots

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Good
7

Parks and playgrounds like Rijsterborgherpark are good for families. Dog parks and baby supplies are widely available.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Excellent
9

Netherlands is very accepting; Deventer reflects this with safe spaces though fewer LGBTQ+ venues.

Pet Friendly
Good
7

Pet-friendly with dog parks and vet services; some pet-friendly accommodations and cafes.

Communities
Expats in Deventer (Social)
Woning huren in Deventer (Housing)

Quick Facts

Population
101,236
Power Reliability
Excellent
10/10

Power supply is very reliable with rare outages.

Languages
Dutch(100%)
English(90%)
Emergency
112
General Emergency
0900-8844
Non-emergency Police
0800-7000
Anonymous Crime Reporting
0800-9009
Utility Emergencies

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
1
🏔️
Earthquake
Very Low Risk
2

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Strong winds and rain
October, November, December, January, February
Autumn and winter bring wind and rain, sometimes heavy.
Heat waves
July, August
Occasional heat waves in summer can cause discomfort.

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