Harderwijk Attractions

The historic little fishing town of Harderwijk, on the Veluwemeer (IJsselmeer), is best known for its marine mammal park that features dolphins and other marine life. The town received its municipal charter from Count Otto of Gelderland in 1231. Although frequently subject to flooding, it was a prosperous port on the Zuiderzee and a member of the Hanseatic League. Harderwijk had a university founded in 1645 (dissolved by Napoleon in 1811), among whose students were the celebrated Dutch physician Herman Boerhaave (1668-1738) and the Swedish biologist Linnaeus (1707-78), who is commemorated by the Linnaeus Tower in the former university botanic garden. During the 19th century Harderwijk was the port of embarkation for the Dutch Indian army, and officers and other ranks, adventurers and criminals from all over Europe flocked to Harderwijk to enlist. As a result the town became known as the "gutter of Europe".