General information
Raalte is a dynamic municipality with over 37,000 inhabitants. It consists of a vast rural area and nine built-up areas: Raalte, Heino, Broekland, Heeten, Laag Zuthem, Lierderholthuis, Mariënheem, and Nieuw Heeten. Our rural community has much to offer its inhabitants and visitors in the form of natural beauty, monumental estates, and various festivities. Raalte's surface area amounts to 17,264 ha.
Within our municipality the built-up areas of Raalte and Heino are the largest; both are situated along the arterial road N35 (Zwolle-Almelo), leading towards the A27 motorway (Utrecht - Groningen). Moreover, Raalte is situated on the north-south thoroughfare N348 / A 28 (Deventer - Hoogeveen - Groningen), which connects with the A1 motorway ( the Western Conurbation - Twente - Germany).
Public transport
Both Raalte and Heino have stations on the Zwolle - Enschede railway section. Besides, Connexxion maintains bus services to and from Zwolle, Deventer, and other destinations in the surrounding area.
Walking and Cycling
There are a number of trails and cycle-tracks running past superb estates, through nature reserves and the various lovely villages and hamlets of our community.
Sports
Our municipality counts a series of possibilities in the field of sports. For instance, there is the subtropical indoor swimming-pool "Tijenraan" in Raalte, and an open-air swimming complex at Heino.
Places of interest
The municipality of Raalte boasts various sights that are certainly more than worth paying a visit.
Churches: The Basilica of the Exaltation of the Cross ( Salland's Cathedral) and the Plaskerk (Plas = Square), both in Raalte, and the Dutch Reformed Church of Heino.
History: At Strunk Farm with its Raalte Museum of Antiquities; the West-Salland Visitors' Information Centre in Heino; and the Salland Museum of Agriculture "De Laarman" at Luttenberg, one imagines oneself on a time-machine travelling back through the actual past of this part of the Netherlands.
Estates: the landed estates of Het Reelaer; Schoonheeten; Het Rozendael; Den Alerdinck; De Colckhof (property of the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves); and the nature reserves De Luttenberg and the Boeterleveld (both managed by The Overijssel Landscape) are very special and a true delight to nature lovers.
Contact information
Council Offices
Address: Postal address:
Zwolsestraat 16 PO Box 140
8101 AC Raalte 8100 AC Raalte
Tel 0572 347 799
Tel 0031- 572 347 799
Fax 0572 355 111
Fax 0031 572 355 111
Urgent Matters
Outside office hours the Council can be contacted through 0031 572 347 799 or 0031 572 347 799. By means of a dialling menu you will be re-directed to the Council Emergency Service.
Public Access
For Council Office opening times please click here.
Recreation and Tourism
The Raalte municipality is to be found in the heart of Salland, a district characterised by various types of landscape, lying between the Salland Hill Range to the east, and the river IJssel to the west. This dramatic scenery offers superb opportunities for exploring the region by bicycle or on foot. Apart from the places of outstanding natural beauty and intriguing local history, much care is bestowed on culture. Raalte's Hoftheater annually presents a variety of performances , more than thirty in all.
Further information, suggestions and tips are obtainable from the Tourist Information Centre (VVV) annex ANWB shop in Raalte (0572 352 406) or from the Heino Tourist Information Centre (VVV) 0572 394 033.
Folklore and Events
Raalte is a community bustling with a great number of activities, some of them of a folkloristic nature, staged throughout the year. A few of these are described below.
- Carnaval : The largest Shrovetide procession is held in Raalte, but, although on a more modest scale, there are also processions in the other villages. Besides, there are several festivities organised by the respective local carnival societies.
- Ribs - and - Blues Festival : an open-air event immediately before Whit Sunday, with its blues music and spareribs a truly enjoyable feast for many a music-lover.
- Heinose Pompdagen ( the Heino Pumping Days) : a series of joyful events in the third week of August. One of the highlights is the "Daggie Old Heino" : trades and handicraft from the past; markets; folk-music and other forms of live music draw thousands of visitors to Heino. Other standard routines are the annual fair and the tradional games.
- Stöppelhaene : a widely-known event. In the final week of August Raalte is immersed in the five-day Salland Harvest Home Festivities. This Grand Harvest Parade with its stunning floats and spectacular bands, the "Blaozersfestival" (the Festival of Bands) and a number of other items on the programme cannot fail to bring something to anybody's liking. During the summer-months preceding Stöppelhaene, i.e. on Wednesdays, the "Salland Butter Markets" take place. Here visitors can witness traditional trades and handicraft and admire regional costumes.
- Salland Aspergeland : is held in the late spring with a view to the promotion of the "white gold", the Salland asparagus.
- International Salland Folklore Festival : a festival where folkloristic dance groups from all over the world join in. This major event is held annually during the third weekend of June.
- The Mid-Summer Fête of Mariënheem : a festivity on the occasion of the longest day of the year, with a multitude of attractive events.
- The Heeten Pony Week : the successful combination of a pony-fair and a week full of activities will turn the village of Heeten topsy-turvy.
Other well-known events
- De Kôle Kermse at Broekland
- The fêtes at Broekland, Lierderholthuis, Luttenberg, Nieuw Heeten, and Schoonheeten
- The "Oranjefeest" (a fête reminiscent of Queen's Day) at Laag Zuthem
- The Salland Hippic Festival Days at Mariënheem.