Grote of Sint-Michaëlskerk Zwolle: the big church on the square

The Grote of Sint-Michaëlskerk is a big Gothic church named after Saint Michael, and its size is the first thing you notice when you step onto the square. Walk around it and you see how the old town grew up around the church, with narrow streets and gabled houses pressed close to its walls.

The square around it is one of the liveliest spots in Zwolle, with the Grote Markt and the city hall close by and the old Hoofdwacht building right next to it. Even if you only stop for a few minutes, it is a good place to get your bearings before you head deeper into the centre.

Two City Game routes in Zwolle pass the church.

Secrets of Zwolle starts from the Grote Kerkplein and takes you on to the Sassenpoort, one of the old city gates, then past the Bethlehemkerk and the city hall to the Grote Markt. Along the way you solve puzzles about the town and its past. You play it in the browser on your own phone, no app needed.

The Zwolle Syndicate (outdoor escape game) begins on the Grote Markt and walks you straight past the Grote of Sint-Michaëlskerk, the Stadhuis and In Den Hoofdwacht to the Bethlehemkerk. You follow Magnus and the stolen formulas through the streets, an outdoor alternative to an escape room. It runs in the free Loquiz app, for teams of 2 to 5 players.

On a game you do not just walk past the Grote of Sint-Michaëlskerk Zwolle: you look for the detail you need to crack the next riddle. That makes you notice things you would miss on a normal stroll, and the story ties the church to the rest of the old town.

You start whenever you like, any day, and set your own pace. Stop for a coffee on the square, take your time at the church and carry on when you are ready. It works for friends, couples, families and colleagues, and if you are a bigger group you can split into several teams and play the same route at the same time.