Zwolle Sassenpoort

A medieval gate in the heart of the city

The Sassenpoort in Zwolle is one of the best-preserved city gates in the Netherlands. The gate dates from the late fourteenth century and closes off the Sassenstraat with four round towers and a Gothic facade. That already looks striking during the day, but it becomes genuinely interesting at the right moments.

When to get the most out of it

The blue hour works very well here. Just after sunset the sky turns deep blue, while the illuminated gate glows warmly. That contrast between cool and warm makes a photograph immediately more interesting. Arrive on time, because the blue hour is short. In summer it comes later, in winter earlier. In the morning you have less chance of tourists in the frame, which is useful if you want clean street shots.

Composition and focal length

The Sassenstraat is a straight street, which immediately gives you a leading line. Stand in the centre of the street and the facades on either side naturally draw the eye towards the gate. That works well with a slightly longer focal length, somewhere around 35mm to 50mm on full frame, keeping distortion to a minimum and preserving the gate's proportions. If you want all four towers in the frame, step further back. With a wide angle you quickly lose the sense of scale. A low viewpoint from street level gives the gate extra stature.

Practical information

You can park in the nearby car parks in the centre of Zwolle. The gate stands on a public street, so no permit is needed. At weekends and during markets the Sassenstraat is busier, which you can either embrace for street photography or avoid if you want a purely architectural shot. The gate can also be visited from the inside; there is a small exhibition about the history of the city.

Sources and further reading

• Gemeente Zwolle, erfgoed
• Rijksmonumenten.nl, Sassenpoort
• Wikipedia, Sassenpoort