Lochem is a city and like-minded municipality with about 33,000 inhabitants in the municipality and 14000 in the city. The town of Lochem is located on the river Berkel as well as on the Twentekanaal and is known for the nearby Lochemse Mountain (see below at 'Nature'). Larger places in the vicinity are the town of Deventer in the northwestern direction and the city of Zutphen in the southwestern direction. In Lochem's territory there is a dam, whose highest point is the 49 meter high and wooded Lochemerberg. Southeast of this low hill lies the Bald Mountain and the northern Paaschberg. A large part of the dam is nature reserve.

From a 1059 graveyard, the oldest of this settlement, it appears that there was already a church in Lochem at that time. Excavations during the restoration of the Great or St. Gudulakerk showed that even about 900 BC. A wooden church must have stood at that place, which makes Lochem one of the oldest chess games of the Achterhoek.

A new, still present council house was built in the years 1634-1640. The beautiful Renaissance celebrity tops are handed by Zutphense City Architect Emond Hellenraet. Elsewhere in the city there are still some 17th century houses. In addition, several religious buildings are worth a visit: the Great or Saint Gudulakerk (Protestant), the White Church (Reformed), In all the Love (Remonstrants), St. Joseph Church (Roman Catholic) and the Selimiye Mosque. The Berkeloord district is a protected village view. In addition, Lochem has tens of national monuments and a number of war memorials.