Utrecht

Utrecht sits in the middle of the Netherlands and serves as the country’s major rail hub. Utrecht Centraal is the largest station in the Netherlands, about half an hour from Schiphol airport and roughly 25 minutes from Amsterdã. For that reason the city works both for a multi-day stay and for a day trip.

The old center is organized around the Domtoren, the 112-metre tower that is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands. It was left standing after a storm in 1674 toppled the cathedral nave. Of what remains of the church, the Domkerk, you can still visit the Gothic choir and the cloister with its garden. Under Domplein square, the DOMunder tour shows remains of the Roman fort that gave rise to the city.

Utrecht’s hallmark is the Oudegracht, the oldest canal in the center. Unlike Amsterdã, here the quays are down at water level: the werven, with medieval cellars excavated under the street that now house cafés and restaurants. You can see it all by boat or on foot along the banks.

The museums make a route of their own: the Centraal Museum, the Museum Speelklok of self-playing instruments, the Museum Catharijneconvent of religious art and the Nijntje Museum, about the bunny Miffy, for very young children. East of the center is the Rietveld Schröderhuis, a 1924 house listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. About 10 km away, Kasteel de Haar is the largest castle in the Netherlands.

Utrecht is also a university town and very bicycle-friendly. Next to the station is the world’s largest bicycle parking facility, with space for 12,500 bikes. English is widely spoken and the center is walkable.

This destination brings together 1 city: Utrecht.