Oldenzaal Things to Do

There have been other churches on this spot, but in 1180 they were replaced by this basilica built from Bentheimer sandstone. The tower is from 1240 and the carillon is from 1930 and has no less than 46 clocks!

Tour around the countryside. This is a route that you can take by car : the Sagenland route. It brings you to the most picturesque places in the area.But I would recommend to take a bike and explore the area. There are a lot of cycle paths and routes in the area that take will take you through the woods, the pastures and small and picturesque villages. You can find a lot of information about bicycle routes around Oldenzaal on this website (in Dutch) : bicycle routes around Oldenzaal. You can get maps of these bicycle routes at the tourist office in Oldenzaal.

If you want more information on Oldenzaal or for instance are looking for maps of the region, information on the city walk or the hiking and cycle paths, don't forget to pay a visit to the local tourist office. The tourist office is the VVV / ANWB, and you can find opposite the big church in Oldenzaal. The address is St.Plechelmusplein 5. Telephone number : 0541-541023. You can also get information online (in Dutch) on their website http://www.vvv-anwboldenzaal.nl/ The tourist office is open on Monday until Friday 9.00 – 17.00 and on Saturday from 12.00 until 16.00.

You have to come to Oldenzaal on a beautiful sunny day, that is absolutely the best time to visit. You really should take some time to have a beer on one of the terraces on the marketsquare; the atmospere is always fantastic! Just sitting very relaxed on the terrace, enjoying the sun, having a drink, watching people walk by.... hmmm, I could sit here for hours :-)

Another statue that has everything to do with the carnival. The carnival is very a big happening in this little town. But not only during the carnival it is party time here. There are a lot of more events going on. The major event is called 'The Boeskool' and is held every year in August. Live bands are playing on the market square a couple of days in a row. The terraces are fully packed with people and the atmosphere is great.

Carnival : Wow, the whole town turns into one big party during the carnival. And that is not for just one day, it starts on a Thursday and goes on until the next Tuesday. Everyone wears silly clothes, and goes to the pub or anywhere else where there is a party.
In Oldenzaal there is a big parade on the Sunday. About a 100.000 people visit our little town and help us celebrate. On the Monday there is the childrens parade and on Tuesday evening they close the carnival celebrations on the town square with 'bokverbranden'. It is a tradition that varies from town to town, but in Oldenzaal they burn a goat of wood and have beautiful fireworks after that.

This city pump was in 1862 given by the bischop of Curacao to Oldenzaal, which was his native town.After the water-works were build in the beginning of this century the city pump was removed. But in 1981 the pump they decided to rebuild it again.

Mechorius huis. This house, which is opposite the Palthe museum, is from the second half of the 17th century. Dr. Michorius lived in this house from 1799-1869. He was a doctor in Oldenzaal in a turbulant time concerning hygiene. He fought against the typhoid- and cholera epidemics. One of the things he did was to try to get the canals in the city filled up and to get the damp manure hills, that were next to the houses, removed.