# Ommen

Ommen is a city in the Vechtdal region in Overijssel, the Netherlands.

## Understand

Ommen grew on a river dune on the river Vecht. The town is first mentioned in 1133, gaining its city rights 115 year later in 1248. Ommen, being situated not far from the river IJssel, along which most Hanseatic cities of the Netherlands are located, was connected to nearby Deventer, Kampen and Zwolle. This connection however, was proven useless not long after. Not because of the connection, but because of Ommen, which produced mostly agrarian goods. These goods, such as grain, were cheaper elsewhere, which made Ommen's connection to the Hanseatic cities of the Netherlands unnecessary. The connection was only kept in place as Ommen was located directly on the connection, namely the river Vecht.
Ommen had a central function until the early 19th century, housing several government offices as well as a tax office and court hall. The latter was deemed unnecessary after a merge of court instances in 1933. During the 1920s and 1930s Ommen was the mondial centre of Theosophy, housing the Order of the Star in the East at the Eerde Estate. The order was disbanded in 1929. The camps held annually on the estate continued until 1939.

## Get in
### By car

Ommen is where the N348 from Zutphen and Deventer meets the N48 to Hoogeveen and the N340 from Zwolle.
When travelling from Groningen, use the A28 heading for Hoogeveen. Once you have Hoogeveen on the left side of the highway, continue on straight on the upcoming Hoogeveen Interchange (Knooppunt Hoogeveen). After the interchange you will find yourself on the N48. Follow this road until an exit sign reading r 101 - Ommen appears. Use this exit to leave the N48 and turn left onto the Balkerweg once you can. The Balkerweg will guide you into Ommen, but to get to the city centre, you will have to turn right on the second roundabout you encounter, following the Schurinkstraat, succeeded by the Prinses Julianastraat. The city centre will appear on your right.
When travelling from anywhere but Groningen and Drenthe, first head for Zwolle (using the A28 from Utrecht and the A50 from Arnhem). Assuming you're on the A28 in Zwolle, use exit 21 (Ommen) to turn onto the N340, which will guide you directly to Ommen.

### By public transit

Ommen is on the Zwolle - Stadskanaal railway, which in modern times connects from Zwolle to Emmen. The 52.50966.41711 Ommen railway station is located about a kilometer from the city centre. A sneltrein leaves every hour (:38 to Emmen, :53 to Zwolle), and much like an Intercity train doesn't connect to every stop on the line. Instead the stoptrein connects to every stop on the line, leaving half an hour after the sneltrein (:08 and :23 to Emmen and Zwolle respectively). From the station, busses leave for the main city (line 568), Zwolle (267), Hoogeveen (31) and Westerhaar (81).

## Get around

Ommen's city centre can easily be travelled by foot, even if you're not staying in the city itself. In that case taking a train and a bus for several stops will get you directly into the city centre, though the bus may be replaced by just plain walking, should you want to do so for roughly a kilometer.
If you're staying in Ommen, then you will most likely want to see more of the Vechtdal. The best way to do so by far is by renting a bike. These can be rented at several companies in Ommen:
* 52.520736.425821 Gevro Tweewielers (formerly Tweewielerspecialist Tonny van der Sligte), Dr. A.C. van Raaltestraat 15, ☏ +31 529 454 020, fax: +31 529 453 192, info@tonnyvandersligte.nl. Van der Sligte rents out the same as Brunnink. They charge €8 per day per bike, given you want a regular and reliable one, and not a tandem, e-bike or so on. For those they charge €12.50 (ATB/MTB), €15 (tandem) and €17.50 (e-bike). Should you need a bike for more than a day, after four days it is most often cheaper to rent the bikes for a week. (updated Oct 2017)
* 52.517046.420682 Rederij Peters, Zwolseweg 4, ☏ +31 529 451 924, info@rederijpeters.nl. Though a rederij usually only rents out canoes, kayaks and boats, Peters rents out bikes that you would usually not rent. They offer e-trikes, kickbikes and funbikes. (updated Oct 2017)

## See

* 52.517786.425361 Streekmuseum Ommen (Regional Museum Ommen), Den Oordt 7, ☏ +31 529 453 487. (updated Oct 2017)
* 52.51786.422382 Nationaal Tinnen Figuren Museum (National Museum of Tin Figures), Markt 1, ☏ +31 529 454 500, welkom@tinnenfigurenmuseum.nl. €6. (updated Oct 2017)

## Buy

* 52.5192316.4230373 Bakkerij Ten Brinke, Kruisstraat 2, ☏ +31 529 451 561, info@bakkerijtenbrinke.nl. (updated Dec 2019)
* 52.51856.423944 HB MODE, Kerkplein 7, ☏ +31 529 453 281, info@hbmode.nl. High-end fashion boutique for women. (updated Dec 2019)

## Eat

* 52.518826.423611 Grand Café Jipp, Kerkplein 3, ☏ +31 529 456 770, jipp@grandcafejipp.nl. (updated Oct 2017)
* 52.517736.422182 Grand Café de Veghte, Markt 3, ☏ +31 529 463 728, info@grandcafedeveghte.nl. (updated Oct 2017)
* 52.519556.422983 La Dolce Vita, Varsenerpoort 13, ☏ +31 529 456 812, info@ladolcevitadiommen.nl. (updated Oct 2017)
* 52.519056.422214 Eetcafé De Ster, Bermerstraat 14, ☏ +31 529 455 273, info@desterommen.nl. (updated Oct 2017)
* 52.542196.482615 De Bootsman, Coevorderweg 19, Stegeren, ☏ +31 529 457 272, info@debootsman.nl. (updated Oct 2017)
* 52.489266.424196 De Nieuwe Brug, Lemelerweg 13, ☏ +31 529 451 723, info@denieuwebrugommen.nl. (updated Oct 2017)
* 52.5185646.4217387 Flater, Markt 18, ☏ +31 529 451 364, info@flater.nl. (updated Dec 2019)

## Sleep

* 52.51686.42241 De Zon, Voorburg 1, ☏ +31 529 455 550. €65. (updated Oct 2017)
* 52.51076.419232 Hampshire Hotel Paping, Stationsweg 29, ☏ +31 529 451 945. €62. (updated Oct 2017)
* 52.50486.42043 Charme Hotel Wildthout, Hammerweg 40, ☏ +31 529 451 592. €69. (updated Oct 2017)
* 52.511096.354064 Logis Herberg de Klomp, Vilsterseweg 10, Vilsteren, ☏ +31 529 459 000, info@herbergdeklomp.nl. €61. (updated Oct 2017)
* 52.524176.560335 De Gloepe, Rheezerweg 84a, Diffelen, ☏ +31 523 251 231, info@degloepe.nl. €79.50. (updated Oct 2017)