At present, Vollenhove is a village of water sports, connecting the Northern and Southern waters of the province of Overijssel. In ancient times, it was a village at the ‘Zuiderzee’, with trade and fishery as a means of living. 

Vollenhove has a marina and the famous Royal Huisman shipyard.  

In the 17th century, Vollenhove counted 17 castles (so called ‘havezaten’). After the French revolution, the nobility of Overijssel left and the castles became derelict buildings.

Some of the historic buildings have been preserved and can be visited, for example the ‘Havezate Marxveld’ with four garden styles from different eras surrounded by walls. And the Oldruitenborgh Estate (our Stadspaleis Hotel OldRuitenborgh) opposite the ‘Havezate Marxveld’.  

At a wide castle-moat, you will find the remains of Castle Toutenburgh, which stood at this location from 1531 to the 18th century. From the year 944, Vollenhove was named Fulnaho. In that period, the area was a forest owned by Otto the Great. He granted Bishop Balderik of Utrecht permission to hunt in the forest. In 1010, Emperor Henry the Second, donated Silva Fulnaho (Forest of Vollenhove) to the Diocese of Utrecht.  

The area was mined in the 11th century and in the 12th century, Bishop Godfried van Rhenen ordered to build The Olde Huys, a castle with a donjon and a chapel at the Almere. In the 14th century, the castle was repeatedly attacked by the Frisians from Stellingwerven. Around the castle, a village called Op ten Camph emerged, gaining city rights on July 12th 1354. From the year 1380 the village has been named Vollenhove.