The old centre of the Hanseatic town of Elburg is no larger than 250 by 350 metres. But the list of monuments and historic buildings in this town is impressive and it's surrounded by moats, earthworks and city wall remains.

Square fishing town

Elburg's front door

The Vischpoort is the characteristic front door to Elburg. This fifteenth-century gateway opens onto the perfectly perpendicular street plan of this special fortified town. From a bird’s-eye view, Elburg is almost the shape of a true square. Remember to look down during your walk through the remarkable streets and picturesque alleyways to see another characteristic Elburg feature: cobbled pavements. Pavements made from countless white and black cobbles.

Rope: traditional craftsmanship

The traditional and artisan crafts of Elburg point to its fishing history. The town still has an eel smokehouse, forge and a ropemaker. Fishing nets and mooring lines were made of rope. Ever since the beginning of the eighteenth century, the Deetman family has been a rope supplier for fishermen and farmers. The roper on the Havenstraat is still going strong, and the process has hardly changed throughout the centuries.

Former Zuiderzee town

Water is an important element in and around Elburg. The fishing town was a flourishing Zuiderzee community. This all changed after the Afsluitdijk (a sea-closure dyke) was constructed in 1932 and the Flevopolder (a region of reclaimed land) was created. Elburg is no longer by the sea, but still has water in its ‘front garden’: the town is surrounded by a moat and the Veluwemeer and Drontermeer are a stone’s throw away. Outside of the Vischpoort is the Elburg harbour. It is home to Elburg botters, recognisable by the initials ‘EB’ on the brown sails. These old wooden boats keep the memory of Elburg’s fishery past alive.

The Elburg marine is also home to various ships and boats that are available to take you on a tour or out sailing for the day. A great way to explore Elburg and surrounding areas.