Deventer (Netherlands Overijssel)

Deventer is an IJssel River cruise port and city in the Netherlands' Overijssel province (Salland region) with population around 100,000. The city is mainly on the river's east bank and partially on IJssel's west bank.

The settlement (named Lebuinus) was founded in late-7th-century around an English missionary. The village developed as an important stop along IJssel River's shipping trade route, but in late-9th-century (882 AD) it was looted and burnt down by the raiding Vikings. Following the attack, it was rebuilt and fortified with a wall, which remains can be seen on Stenen Wal Str (now excavated and restored).

After the surrounding stone walls were constructed, in 956 AD the town received city rights. In the following 5 centuries, the city developed as a major riverport and trade center on IJssel, and eventually (in the 15th-cntury) became a Hanseatic city. Its harbor port had capacity to accommodate large-sized merchant ships. Most of the trade consisted of imported from Norway saltwater fish - mainly cod and dried haddock.

As the shipping trade declined in the 16th-18th centuries, the city started to develop a strong iron industry using the riversand (oer) containing iron. From this material (deposits were located close to the town) was produced iron ore. In the 19th century were developed manufacturing industries, including for bicycles, carpets, textiles, tins and cans (for foods-beverages), cigars, heavy machinery, metal castings (foundry).

Today, Deventer's best-known tourist attractions include the locally manufactured Bussink Deventer Koek (honey cake), The Waag (Weighing-house/City Museum), Speelgoedmuseum (Toy Museum), St Lebuinuskerk (St Lebuin Church, with high tower), Bergkerk (Mountain Church, now modern art museum), Stadsarchief en Athenaeumbibliotheek (16th-century, now City Archive and Holland's oldest library), De Proosdij (early-12th-century, Holland's oldest building still in use), Brink (downtown's market square with 16th-18th-century houses, shops, cafes), major annual festivals - including Deventer op stelten (July, with live performances by actors and artists), Deventer Book Fair (August, Europe's largest) and Dickens Festival (December).

As cruise port, Deventer is included in the regular schedule of one of Europe's largest river cruise companies - Phoenix Reisen. Next table shows the ports sequence of Phoenix Reisen's 10-day "Holland and Belgium" cruisetour itinerary roundtrip from homeport Dusseldorf. The cruisetour is operated by the chartered from Feenstra Rijn Lijn ship Calypso and priced from ~USD 1600 per person (double occupancy cabin rates).