Travel advice for Netherlands
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Netherlands
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written by Kieran Meeke
updated 3.09.2021
This university town may be the fourth largest city in the Netherlands, but it hides its scale around a welcoming heart that makes you feel instantly at home. The cosy medieval centre is surrounded by layers of ultramodern new developments radiating outward. A few steps from a shining glass-and-steel department store, you will find a cobbled street, lined with warm cafes and tiny boutiques.
Every corner brings something new to discover: an exciting restaurant, a quirky museum, an art gallery, a quiet church, or a lovely canal view. This special mix gives Utrecht its unique appeal.
Outdoor cafe in front of the Bell Tower at the Domplein © Jurjen Drenth
The best of the Netherlands and Belgium
This trip will bring you the best of two countries: the Netherlands and Belgium. From the quaint streets, canals and windmills of Holland to beer and Belgium chocolate tasting in three beautiful Belgium cities. This trip has it all.
customize ⤍Experience the Liberation Route in BeNeLux
Explore the path of the World War II Liberation Route through Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Visit important landmarks and museums on the way with this self drive itinerary, with enough time to explore cities such as Brussels and Rotterdam on the way.
customize ⤍Netherlands, Utrecht, Central Station and City Hall © Jurjen Drenth
Almost everywhere you go, you’ll have the 14th-century Dom Tower, the highest church tower in Holland as an always-visible landmark. Climb the 465 steps to the top for an overview of the city’s other attractions.
In a square nearby is the Museum Speelklok, with its collection of antique timepieces, and the canal side streets radiating off it lined with tempting shops, cafés and bars. You can see the green spaces of the Wilhelminapark, with its lovely restaurant, and the University Botanic Gardens, with the tropical greenhouses that make a fun destination to visit in autumn or winter.
The skyline is filled with striking modern buildings, particularly around the university area. Look for the building that seems as if a UFO hit a tower block, and those with any interest in architecture will want to search out the Rietveld Schröder House, an icon of 1920s design and now a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Artists will also enjoy the Dick Bruna House, home of the famous designer’s cartoon character Miffy. Opposite is the Centraal Museum of Utrecht, with its fascinating collection of Dutch fashion design, among other items detailing the history of the city.
The centrepiece of this museum quarter is the Museum Catharijneconvent and its priceless religious art collection dating back to the Middle Ages (not to mention a nice café). This whole area is made for walking, with a new discovery around every corner, whether it’s a medieval almshouse, traditional-style barbershop or a quirky new cold-brew coffee bar.
Utrecht city, view from Neude tower © Jurjen Drenth
There is also the indoor Hoog Catherijne, beside the Central Station, where locals hide out in bad weather to browse for the latest in fashion or to find a new gadget.
Shopping by the canal in Utrecht © Kieran Meeke
The Oudegracht is a split level design, with its wide wharfs at water level now used as terraces for the bars, restaurants and clubs built into the former warehouses. Foodies love the wide choice of different restaurants throughout Utrecht, serving Dutch and international food.
Look around, and up and down, for food trucks, basement pubs, rooftop restaurants and industrial-chic cafes serving everything from simple sandwiches to vegan delights. A local favourite is the Rijsttafel (“rice table”) at any Indonesian restaurant – a good way to try new tastes as you sample the menu.
Besides the Oudegracht, another focal point is the Neude, a large plaza surrounded with places to eat, drink and go clubbing. This former market square holds the annual Christmas Fair as well as other cultural events during the year.
Revellers alongside Oudegracht. © Jurjen Drenth
Five times a year, the city hosts a 'Cultural Sunday' when such venues fill with events ranging from theatre and opera to film and storytelling on a common theme. Most are free and a “language no problem” policy also help make the day accessible to all. No matter the time of year, winter or summer, there’s always something new to try in Utrecht.
Utrecht, festival signs. © Kieran Meeke
Discover Utrecht. If you’re looking for true Dutch flavours in an urban setting, Utrecht is your destination. Explore why this city has so much to offer, including top places to visit, eat and shop. Plus see an exclusive interview with music artist AnneLotte De Graaf from Amber Arcades. FIND OUT MORE
Top image: Traditional houses on the Oudegracht (Old Canal) in center of Utrecht, Netherlands © Olena Z/Shutterstock
written by Kieran Meeke
updated 3.09.2021
Kieran has lived in 12 countries – including Yemen and Mozambique – and written about countless others, specialising in long-form features that get beneath the surface. This love of exploring the quirky and hidden in every destination saw him run the Secret London website for 15 years, but more recently has taken him on long distance walking and horse-riding adventures. Follow him on Instagram @kieran_meeke.
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Netherlands
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