Zwolle

   Town on the River IJssel, capital of the province of Over ijssel. The city was first documented in 1040 and was granted urban statutes by its lord, the bishop of Utrecht. As an important commer cial city, Zwolle became a member of the Hansa League like its neighbors Kampen and Deventer. In the late Middle Ages, the town was the center of the spiritual movement of the devotio moderna of Geert Groote. In 1579, during the Dutch Revolt, Zwolle joined the Union of Utrecht. Zwolle flourished during the period of the Re public, but after the Napoleonic annexationof the Kingdom ofHol land(1810–1813), the city did not regain its earlier prosperity. Some famous people were born in Zwolle, for example the liberal politi cian Johan Rudolf Thorbecke and the man of letters Everardus (Everhardus) Johannes Potgieter (1808–1875). Presently, Zwolle houses several industries such as the manufac ture of metal and chemical products, food, and printing companies. The city is an important center for its surrounding areas, with markets and educational facilities such as the polytechnic Windesheim, which is associated with the Free Universityof Amsterdam. Zwolle houses a fine collection of ancient and modern art in its Provincial Museum. There are some beautiful buildings from the 14th through 17th centuries, several churches, and a gateway, the Sassenpoort. The city has about 110,000 inhabitants today.