The Harbour Quarter

We continue cycling along the IJssel in the direction of Zutphen. Soon we see a large gray silo appear in front of us. At the end of the Pothoofd we cross the Zutphenseweg and end up in the harbour quarter.

It is immediately clear that we have ended up in a totally different part of Deventer. The graceful Hanseatic facades and red paving stones have been replaced by robust silos, steel beams and graffiti. This area is a symbol of the industrialization of Deventer.

100 years ago, Deventer decided to build a harbour on this site. The black silo was the first building to be completed. It was used for the transhipment of peas, beans and other consumer goods. Deventer expected a lot from this new port, which had a railway connection, among other things.

Unfortunately, the crisis of the 1930s threw a spanner in the works, and the 2nd World War did not exactly help the port in the right direction.

After the Second World War, the city council decided to tackle the port. A lock ensured that ships could always moor in the harbour quarter despite the fluctuating water levels in the IJssel. The construction of a railway line also gave the port a boost.

Until the 70s and 80s of the last century, trade was good. However, the port could not keep up with the increase in scale that was taking place in the Netherlands. More and more transport took place on the roads and the port fell into disrepair.

A few years ago, the municipality of Deventer decided to give this dilapidated part of the city a new impulse by attracting adventurous entrepreneurs and residents. Few rules lead to creativity in the Havenkwartier. It’s a lovely place for a drink, so we take a break here. Both inside and outside you can enjoy a refreshing drink or a warming cup of coffee.

sources:

“The history of the Havenkwartier in a nutshell.” The history of the Havenkwartier in a nutshell | Havenkwartier Deventer, www.havenkwartierdeventer.com/info/over-het-havenkwartier/de-geschiedenis-van-het-havenkwartier-in-vogelvlucht/.

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