Two old city gates form the entrance to the historic city centre, the Benschopperpoort and the IJsselpoort. Formerly, mainly farmers entered the city through the Benschopperpoort, and then there was a separate entrance for important people. The Benschopperpoort was the gate to the outlying area of the Lopikerwaard; you were directly in the farmland. Pasture as far as you could see, with the villages of Benschop and Lopikerkapel in the distance. In front of the gate was a small lock, where ships could also moor. Through the lock, boats could reach the Hollandse IJssel through the city canal. The Benschopperpoort also had an important function for the markets in IJsselstein.