Kaatje bij de Sluis

Blokzijl is a small city located southwest of Steenwijk in the province of Overijssel, the Netherlands. The city is a major tourist destination near the De Weerribben-Wieden National Park and attracts many water sports enthusiasts. Blokzijl was founded in the 1580s as a trading post for peat. After the Siege of Steenwijk (1580–81) in the Eighty Years' War, the Dutch built a fortified lock or in local dialect zijl or siel. The monumental houses around the picturesque harbour were built during 17th century. Blokzijl received city rights in 1672, but was stripped of them a few years later. Until 1973, it was a separate municipality, when it became a component of the new municipality Brederwiede; it is now part of Steenwijkerland. One the interesting sights of the city is an old cannon, located on the harbour quay. This cannon was not used for defense purposes, but as a warning device during storm and high tide. Flooding was a real danger before the Noordoostpolder and the Afsluitdijk were constructed in the 1930-40's. One residential building shows the height the water reached during a flood in 1825. In 1926, a fire destroyed part of the centre and damaged the church.

Hof van Sonoy is a defunct restaurant in Blokzijl, Netherlands. It was a fine dining restaurant that was awarded one Michelin star in 2005 and retained that rating until 2008.Owner and head chef of Hof van Sonoy was Paul van Staveren.Restaurant Hof van Sonoy was located in a refurbished 19th century school.The restaurant lost its star in 2008, when the restaurant was closed. The owner moved the restaurant to Emmeloord and opened the restaurant there as Sonoy.Hof van Sonoy was a member of Alliance Gastronomique Néerlandaise since 2006.

Baarlo is a hamlet in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is located in the municipality Steenwijkerland, about 1 km northwest of the city of Blokzijl. It was first mentioned in 1219 as Barlo, and means "barren forest". During the Middle Ages, it used to have a chapel, however it was damaged in a 1825 flood, and demolished in 1836. Until the Noordoostpolder was reclaimed, the village lay on the dyke of the IJsselmeer. In 1840, it was home to 145 people.Baarlo should not be confused with the village with the same name in the municipality of Zwartewaterland, about 15 km to the southeast.

Nederland is a hamlet in the municipality Steenwijkerland in the province Overijssel, Netherlands. It has a population of about 15. 'Nederland' is the Dutch name for the Netherlands. Because of the comical value of the toponym, roadsigns with the name 'Nederland' are stolen frequently.It was first mentioned between 1830 and 1855 as 't Nederland, and means "low-lying land". Nederland has a statistical entry, and its own postal code. Originally, it was only accessible by boat. In 1840, it was home to 182 people, and was a peat excavation village.The Dutch beer company Bavaria has used Nederland in a commercial. In the commercial two men are giving away beer in the hamlet. It ends with (in translation): Bavaria, popular throughout Nederland. The hamlet was pictured on a Dutch postage stamp.

Vollenhove is a city in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is located in the municipality of Steenwijkerland, southwest of Steenwijk. Until the Noordoostpolder was drained, it was located on the coast of the Zuiderzee. Vollenhove received city rights in 1354. Later it was the main city in this region, that was formerly called Land van Vollenhove. Vollenhove was the summer residence of the bishop of Utrecht, the ruler of these parts. He lived in the castle Toutenburg, of which only some small ruins are left now. To be near their lord, quite some nobility moved to Vollenhove. They built their estates (Dutch: havezates) in the town, which was unique. Therefore, Vollenhove was called the city of palaces. Like Blokzijl, peat transport to Holland by ship caused the small city to flourish during the 17th century. Vollenhove was a separate municipality until 1973, when it became a part of Brederwiede. Between 1818 and 1942, the municipality was divided into two parts, Stad Vollenhove (the city) and Ambt Vollenhove (the countryside).

Wetering is a hamlet in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is located in the municipality of Steenwijkerland, about 9 km southwest of the town of Steenwijk.It was first mentioned in 1899 as Wetering, and means "discharge canal". Wetering is a statistical entity, has its own postal code, and has two abandoned churches. Nevertheless it is hamlet probably due to its small population and spread out houses.

Stad Vollenhove is a former municipality in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It consisted of the city of Vollenhove. It existed from 1818 to 1942, when it merged with the municipality of Ambt Vollenhove, which covered the surrounding countryside.

Ambt Vollenhove is a former municipality in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It consisted of the countryside surrounding the city of Vollenhove, which was a separate municipality. Ambt Vollenhove existed from 1818 to 1942 when it became a part of Vollenhove.

The Kop van Overijssel (English: Head of Overijssel) is a region in the very northwestern part of the Dutch province of Overijssel. It consists of the municipality of Steenwijkerland and matches the historical region of the Land van Vollenhove. In past times it comprised a wider area, the municipalities of Kampen, Zwartewaterland and Staphorst also belonging to it. The Kop van Overijssel has about 43,000 inhabitants and an area of about 322 km2, of which a tenth is water. The 'capital' is Steenwijk. Other noteworthy places are Blokzijl, Giethoorn (a 'Venice of the North') and Vollenhove. The region is nearly surrounded by three provincial borders: in the west that of Flevoland (Noordoostpolder region), in the north that of Friesland (Stellingwerven region) and in the east that of Drenthe (the municipalities of Westerveld and Meppel). In the south it borders on Salland, another region of Overijssel. In the is a marsh of about 60 km2, Nationaal Park Weerribben-Wieden. It is a national park that contains the lakes Beulakerwijde and Belterwijde.

Sint Jansklooster (Dutch Low Saxon: ′t Klooster) is a village in the municipality Steenwijkerland of the Dutch province of Overijssel. It started as a monastery. The village is located near the Weerribben-Wieden National Park, and organises an annual bloemencorso (flower parade).

Brederwiede is a former municipality in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It was created in a merger of Blokzijl, Giethoorn, Vollenhove, and Wanneperveen in 1973, and existed until it became a part of Steenwijk in 2001 (since 2003: Steenwijkerland).

Kraggenburg is a settlement in the Noordoostpolder area of the Netherlands.. The village is situated south east of the regional town Emmeloord. Kraggenburg was established in 1948,. and received her name from a former lighthouse that is named Oud Kraggenburg. It belongs to the oldest buildings of the reclaimed land area called Noordoostpolder, see also Schokland.