Things to do in Weesp

Peruse the porcelain at Museum Weesp

Museum Weesp is housed on the top floor of the monumental town hall (from 1776), one of the 100 most important monuments in the Netherlands. The collections will take you on a journey from the earliest Iron Age settlement to the stories of its present inhabitants. Admire early Dutch porcelain, learn how chocolate is made and discover why Weesper jenever was a favourite of the Dutch East India Company. And for anyone interested in the beautiful period rooms of this neoclassical building, a one-hour audio tour is included in the entrance fee.

Sample local tipples in a former church

You can’t truly get to know a city without trying the local tipple, so look no further than Wispe Brouwerij, a unique brewery housed in a historical church turned grand café. Between the copper kettles, the mint-coloured decor, high ceilings, and airy interiors make for a stunning setting to enjoy home-brewed seasonal beers, Dutch snack platters, and juicy burgers. Guided tours and tastings will take you through the entire brewing process, and you can also have a peek to see how Anker Weesp's jenever and liqueurs are distilled.

Pick up freshly baked goods from a historic flour mill

Molen De Vriendschap is a traditional windmill where ecological grains are still ground into flour using good old-fashioned wind power. When the wind is strong enough, the mill operates a few days a week thanks to a passionate team of volunteers. While the interior is generally closed to the public, budding bakers and anyone who loves pastries, sourdough bread, and gingerbread are welcome to shop for their pick of delicious items in the mill shop every Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00.

Kick back with a film at a retro cinema

Thanks to its striking Amsterdam School architecture (a little similar to Art Deco), the City of Wesopa is hard to miss. This cinema theatre is primarily run by volunteers, who keep the historic character and function of the building alive. You’ll find the agenda loaded up with language-no-problem (code for English-speaking) music nights, films and plays for young and old.

Relax in the green oasis of Theetuin Noot

Built in 1974 within one of the four bastions of the old fortified city, Theetuin Noot was the first tearoom in the Netherlands. Choose from their attractive selection of coffees, cakes and pastries before finding a spot in the Alice in Wonderland-esque garden where the various plants attract gardening enthusiasts and buzzing insects alike, who must be equally drawn to the pistachio-coloured cabins dotted around the grounds.

Cool off with a scoop from Nelis

Time to cool off? Don’t miss the chance to slurp one of the best ice creams in Weesp (even voted the best ice cream in the Netherlands in 2020) at Nelis' IJssalon. On late summer evenings, you’ll find half of the town queuing up for a scoop, or two, or three. The surrounding canals and historic waterways make for a charming route for a relaxing promenade, cone in hand.

Spend the night in a historic bell tower

For an unforgettable night’s sleep, you’ll find a spectacular apartment called The Clock Tower in the tower of the Sint-Laurentiuskerk. This luxury hotel suite features many original features (dating back to 1876) of the original belfry – not including the three 800-kilo bronze bells, which would have been quite the wake-up call. After climbing the 155 steps to this exclusive outpost, guests can enjoy spectacular views over Weesp from the free-standing bath.

Cycle along the Defence Line

Weesp is a fantastic starting point for exploring the Stelling van Amsterdam (the Defence Line of Amsterdam), a 135-kilometre ring of fortifications around the city that once protected it from invaders and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1996. Unique bike routes (in English) take you past the most beautiful highlights, among them Fort Island Pampus, Fort aan de Ossenmarkt, Fort Uitermeer and Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot. Adventurous cyclists should check out De Fietsboot (the Bike Boat), which sails along the River Vecht and lets you hop on and off or continue by bike or foot as you please.

Watch the passing boats

During summertime, admire the busy boat traffic in the heart of Weesp from one of the many café terraces, and you’ll find several landing stages, even in the city centre. Don’t forget to watch the bridgekeeper, who has to operate the three main bridges by hopping between them on his bicycle. If you fancy getting out on the water, there are plenty of boat rental options in Weesp and the surrounding area. The River Vecht and nearby Loosdrechtse Plassen leisure lakes are popular with sailing and watersports enthusiasts and make for a lovely day out on the water.

Check out our guide to the Castles & Gardens region for more day-trip ideas.

Go boutique shopping

Weesp might be compact, but it packs a lot into its fortified walls, including some lovely boutiques and vintage stores. Head to Slijkstraat for maximum choice and a lovely mix of artisan boutiques and produce stalls: Designer items at Boutique Bijt; kitchen supplies at none other than Hel's Kitchen; books at PeZZi PaZZi; speciality cheese at Pronk Kaas en Delicatessen and artisan chocolate at Patisserie Boom.

Escape to the spa

While a hidden spa may still be slightly beyond reach, hiding in a spa - at least from the hustle and bustle of work - is possible at Spa Weesp. In this wellness resort, expect to be pampered with the various packages, sauna rituals and infusions. Or make your own plan by trying out the different saunas and baths at your leisure. Complete with a restaurant serving fresh and healthy meals and on-demand drinks service while you relax on your lounger outside, this is a little slice of bliss when you need it most.