Deventer

Deventer (population 70,000) is a city in the eastern Netherlands in the province of Overijssel on the east bank of the IJssel river.

The municipality also comprises the following towns, villages and townships: Colmschate, Diepenveen, Lettele, Okkenbroek, Schalkhaar.

Deventer was probably founded by the English missionary Lebuinus around 768. During the Middle Ages, Deventer was part of the Hanseatic League.

Deventer is the birthplace of Geert Groote and home to his Broeders des Gemenen Levens, a school of religious thought that was of great influence on Thomas a Kempis and Erasmus in later times.