Open Monumentendag IJsselstein

Open Monument Day is the annual event in September when monuments throughout the Netherlands are open to everyone free of charge. It’s the perfect opportunity to visit a place you wouldn’t normally get to see, or to take part in a one-off activity. We’ve compiled a list of all the activities taking place on this day (or, in some cases, throughout the weekend) for you.

Saturday 12 September 2026

Oude Nicolaaskerk
10.00 – 17.00: visitors are welcome to enjoy coffee, take part in historical guided tours, observe a moment of silence in the church or have a personal chat.
11.00 – 15.00: a tour every hour on the hour for a group of up to 12 people (free to join).
1.00 pm – 1.30 pm: concert by the QuARTz Male Vocal Ensemble, led by their two conductors, Jeroen de Vaal and Lineke Lever, who will also be performing as tenor and pianist respectively during this concert. Admission free.
2.00 pm, 3.00 pm and 4.00 pm: organ recitals by organists Henk van Lingen, Martien van der Zwan and Simon Koolen


Basilica11.00 – 16.00: guided climb up the tower (cost: 5 euros per person, children 2.50 euros towards the upkeep of the church)
11.00 – 16.00: guided tours of the church (free)

Castle Tower and IJsselstein Museum
,1.00 pm – 5.00 pm: Admission to the Castle Tower is free
1.00 pm – 5.00 pm: IJsselstein Museum offers free admission to the permanent collection and the children’s exhibition ‘Druktemakers’

Tip: do pop into the Takkenmuseum on Museumplein

De Windotter Corn Mill
10.00 – 16.00: the mill shop is open to visitors and sells mill-made products. Weather permitting, something tasty will be baked outdoors
10.30 am – 4.00 pm: free guided tours led by the miller at least every half hour

Historic Town Hall
11.00 – 17.00: open for viewing and guided tours (free of charge)

De Waag
10.30 am – 4.30 pm: Bovenwaag open for guided tours and a look at the IJsselstein Historical Society’s image archive.
10.30 – 16.30: The Waag is open to visitors. A Waag master will be on hand to tell you more about the history of the Waag, which dates back to 1779.

Yselvaert boat trips
12.30 pm: Fortification tour. Departure from the boarding point in front of the library. End point: boarding point by the Basilica.
2.00 pm: Regular canal cruise. Departure from the jetty on the Walkade, opposite the IJsselstein Museum
Book your ticket in advance via rondvaartenijsselstein.nl

Tip: let yourself be surprised along the way by ‘IJsselstein rolt uit’!
Discover surprising performances and creative displays at various locations near historic monuments.

Take a tour of IJsselstein
On both days, various audio tours for adults and children will be continuously available, such as the 'Tour of Monuments', 'Tour of Historic IJsselstein' or the 'Tour of Instagramming' that will take you past all the beautiful spots of IJsselstein. A treasure hunt is available for children. These city walks can be downloaded for free on any smartphone via the Izi.travel app.

Sunday 13 September 2026

IJsselsteinCastle Tower and Museum
13.00 – 17.00: Admission to the Castle Tower is free
13.00 – 17.00: Admission to the IJsselstein Museum is free for a visit to the permanent collection and the children’s exhibition ‘Druktemakers’

Tip: do pop into the Takkenmuseum on Museumplein

Boat trips along the city canals
12.30 pm: Fortification tour. Departure from the boarding point in front of the library. End point: boarding point at the Basilica
2.00 pm: Regular canal cruise. Departs from the jetty on the Walkade, opposite Museum IJsselstein
Book your ticket in advance via rondvaartenijsselstein.nl

Basilica13.00 – 16.00: church open to visitors. No guides available.

Oude Nicolaaskerk
Open only for regular church services at 10.00 and 18.30.

Take a tour of IJsselstein
On both days, a range of audio tours for adults and children will be available throughout the day, such as the ‘Monuments Tour’, the ‘Historic IJsselstein Tour’ or the ‘Instagram Tour’, which takes you past all the beautiful spots in IJsselstein. A treasure hunt is available for children. These city walks can be downloaded for free onto any smartphone via the Izi.travel app.

Dining tip
Enjoy lunch or dinner in one of IJsselstein’s historic buildings:
- Brasserie Joris in the old inn
- Bistro Mairie beneath the vaulted ceilings of the historic town hall

More terrace tips

Please note: the programme is subject to change

Photo above: John Verbruggen Photography