Overijssel
Overijssel is a mid-sized province in the central part of the country, bordering Germany to the east, Drenthe and Friesland to the north, Flevoland to the west and Gelderland to the south. In a geographical aspect, the region is typical for the Netherlands, with territory consisting largely of sandy areas and drained marshes, strewn with hundreds of lakes and small rivers. Much of the area is below sea level, but there are a couple of hardly noticeable heights in the east, which are favourite weekend destination for walking tours for locals. The capital of Overijssel is Zwolle, a historical city full of imposing buildings of different architectural styles. The former textile centre, Enschede, has evolved into a leading educational and research centre. Many art museums and events are also worth a visit, including the famous marathon, the second oldest in Europe.