Utrecht (city) - Utrecht (stad)

SARS-CoV-2 without background.pngWARNING: Due to the outbreak of the infectious disease COVID-19 (see coronavirus pandemic), caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, also known as coronavirus, there are travel restrictions worldwide. It is therefore of great importance to follow the advice of the official bodies of Belgium and Netherlands to be consulted frequently. These travel restrictions may include travel restrictions, closure of hotels and restaurants, quarantine measures, being allowed to be on the street for no reason and more, and can be implemented with immediate effect. Of course, in your own interest and that of others, you must immediately and strictly follow government instructions.

Utrecht[1] is the capital and largest city of the province Utrecht and the fourth largest city in the Netherlands. Because of the Dom Tower, the city's logo and the highest church tower in the Netherlands at over 112 metres, the city is also known as the Dom City.

Info

Skyline of Utrecht

Utrecht is centrally located in the Netherlands and in the province of Utrecht. The city originated on the Rhine, when the main arm of that river followed the course of the current Kromme Rijn and Oude Rijn.

There was a Roman castellum on the site of the current Domplein. Today a modest Kromme Rijn flows into Utrecht in the east to leave the city canals such as Vecht (northern) and Leidse Rijn (western). To the west of the city runs the wide Amsterdam-Rhine Canal, to the south runs the Vaartse Rijn, a much older canal.

To the west of the city, 'over the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal', lies the Leidsche Rijn suburban expansion project, the largest Vinex location in the Netherlands, a series of new housing estates that, when completed, should house approximately 90,000 inhabitants. To the north, south and east of the city are several suburban and commuter/satellite towns, the largest of which are Maarssen, Nieuwegein, De Bilt, IJsselstein, Zeist and Wooden are. The metropolitan agglomeration coincides with the BRU (Utrecht Region Board). See the map of Utrecht

Arrive

By plane

There are direct flights from almost all major European airports to Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands. From Schiphol you can travel by train to the Domstad in about half an hour.

By train

Utrecht is easily accessible by train. From all major Dutch cities there are direct trains to the Dom city at least once an hour. From Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, Arnhem/Nijmegen, Zwolle and 's-Hertogenbosch there are four intercity trains per hour. From Schiphol Airport you can take a direct train to Utrecht four times an hour, the journey time is approximately 30 minutes. From Amsterdam you can be in Utrecht in less than half an hour. Several international trains go from Utrecht to Cologne and further south of Germany. From Belgium you can either through Antwerp and Rotterdam travel, or via shutter and Maastricht.

By car

Utrecht is served by the A2, A12, A27 and A28 motorways. These motorways have various exits, including an exit to the Transferium Westraven. There are several parking garages in the center where paid parking is possible. The few parking spaces on the street are also paid, and are usually occupied.

By bus

Connexxion [2] and U-OV (Qbuzz)[3] provide intercity buses around the city.

Travel around

By bus/tram/metro

GVU [4] provides city bus services in the city and the surrounding area. A tram also runs from Nieuwegein and IJsselstein to Utrecht, this tram also stops at the Transferium Westraven on the A12, where you can park your car and buy a combi ticket for the parking and the tram ride. For travel by bus you use a strip card, which you can purchase at bookstores and cigar shops. On Thursdays and Saturdays you can also use the cheaper shopping ticket, which can be purchased on the bus.

By bike

Thanks to the car-free center, the city is easily accessible by bicycle. The real city center, the streets around the Oude Gracht are reasonably cycleable. There are several places to rent bicycles near the station. The neighborhoods outside the center are easily accessible by bicycle. A dense network of bicycle paths connects the city center with the surrounding neighbourhoods. A good cyclist needs about half an hour to get from one side of the city to the other.

By taxi

Taxis can be found at the exit/entrance of Hoog Catharijne, Jaarbeursplein, Mariaplaats and Neude.

on foot

The center of the city of Utrecht is easily accessible on foot. From the station you can reach the city center in 5 minutes. Always follow the 'centrum' signs. It is in any case recommended to explore the center of Utrecht on foot as much as possible.

By boat

It is possible to take a boat trip in Utrecht. Pedal boats and canoes can also be rented to sail through the canals.

To look at

  • Dom tower

  • Oudegracht

  • Abel Tasman Bridge in winter night

  • Castle the hair

Centre

The Pope's House
The Utrecht Dom Church
  •    The Dom Tower. The Dom Tower from 1382 is the tallest building in the entire province of Utrecht. Accompanied by a guide, the 112 meter high tower can be climbed and on a clear day you can see as far as possible.
  •    Cathedral Church. The bishop's church in the middle of the city. Since this church was hit by a hurricane in 1674, the accompanying Dom Tower has been separated from the part of the church that is still standing.
  •    Pope's House.
  •    The wharves along the Oudegracht and Nieuwegracht. Unique in the world are the wharves that are located directly on the canals and the associated wharf cellars that are located under the adjacent streets and buildings.
  •    The Neude.
  • Academy Building Utrecht University.

Outside the center

Rietveld-Schröder House
  •    Rietveld Schröder House, Prince Hendriklaan 50, ☎ 31 30 236 2310. This monument, which has a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List, was designed by the Utrecht architect and designer Gerrit Rietveld. The design is based on the ideals of The style.
  •    Castle the hair, Kasteellaan 1, Haarzuilens, e-mail: . 09:00-17:00 (castle 11:00-17:00). Kasteel de Haar is a beautiful castle restored by Pierre Cuypers. The garden is open all year round, the castle is partially open to the public. The castle is still inhabited for one month a year by the Van Zuylen Nijevelt family. The family is no longer the owner, but is therefore a user.
  •    ham tower (About 1400 meters by road from Vleuten train station.). Was part of the now largely demolished De Ham Castle.
  •    Lombok. The Kanaalstraat is the heart of this multicultural district. The long street with its many foreign shops offers the appearance of an exotic city. You can also find wood sawmill De Ster in this district.
  •    Wood sawmill De Ster, Windmill Park 8, ☎ 31 30 294 2553. This sawmill was built in 1721 along the Leidsche Vaart. In 1998, the mill and the grounds around it were restored.
  •    Fort on the Klop.
  •    Utrecht University Botanical Gardens.

Museums

To do

  • In the Jaarbeurs Utrecht many trade fairs are held, such as the Vakantiebeurs.
  • Dutch Film Festival (September October)
  • Holland Festival Early Music (August September)
  • Utrecht Away Party (September) to open the cultural season
  • Spring Dance (dance festival, April)
  • Festival at the Wharf (theater festival, May)
  • Holland Animation Film Festival (Animation festival, November)
  • Utrecht Literature Festival (SLAU's quirky literature festival, October)

To buy

Utrecht has a very attractive center for shopping. Along the Oudegracht and Steenweg you will mainly find the shops of the large retail chains. You can also find these in Hoog-Catharijne. West of the center is the station with the attached shopping and office complex Hoog-Catharijne, which has been controversial since its existence, both for its architecture and the deterioration that occurred, making it a sanctuary for drug users. Since the beginning of 2000, however, a lot of time and money has been spent by the municipality to improve this living environment. In 2007 a major refurbishment of the entire station area was started. For example, the Singel around Utrecht will be restored and Vredenburg will be extensively renovated (see [5]). A small harbor will also be created on the Smakkelaarsveld, which will reconnect the Catharijnesingel with the Leidsche Rijn.

In and around the center there are also a few streets with more small-scale and specialized shops. The Twin Street is a good example of this. The street is located in the southern part of the center, in the so-called Museum Quarter. This street from the 12th runs parallel to the Oudegracht. For daily shopping there is a bakery, butcher, fish shop, cheese shop, greengrocer, Italian delicatessen and organic supermarket. There are also specialist shops such as the famous Bert's Beer House. , a curio shop and several cooking shops. Examples of streets with specialized shops in Utrecht-East are the Nightingale Street, Mayor Reigerstraat and Andriaen van Ostadelaan.

For Holland souvenirs you can go to the Holland Souvenir Gift Shop, which is located at Lichte Gaard 1, just in front of the Dom Tower.

Markets

There are several markets in Utrecht

  • The patch market is held on Saturday morning on the Breedstraat.
  • The plant market is all Saturday at the Janskerkhof
  • General (organic) day markets are held on the Vredenburg. On Wednesday 10:00-17:00, Friday 10:00-18:00 and Saturday 08:00-17:00.

Food

The Oude Gracht with the Dom Tower in the middle

Many restaurants can be found in the center, especially along the Oude Gracht, where you can eat outside in the summer on the wharf terraces along the water.

Budget

  • Bram Ladage a chip shop in various places throughout the city, named the healthiest fries in the Netherlands according to the consumer association.
  • GoPasta on Hoog Catharijne, near the station. Healthy alternative to snack bars, for a competitive price you quickly have a homemade and freshly prepared pasta, salad or sandwich. [6]
  • Le Connaisseur, Oude Gracht, past the Rembrandt cinema, low prices.
  • Manneken Pis at the Vredenburg, which was named the best French Fries tent in the Netherlands by the Frietopia website.
  • Florin, Nobel Street 2, ☎ 31 30 231 9957, e-mail: . 16:00-01:00. From €10.00, on Monday and Tuesday student snack for €6.00..
  • Mr Smakers, Nobel Street 143, ☎ 31 30 231 9957, e-mail: . 11:30-22:00. The burger tent of Utrecht. from €6.50.
  •    Mori's Persian Cuisine, Lange Nieuwstraat 21, 3512 PB Utrecht, ☎ 3130 8795353. wed-sun 16:30-22:00. Healthy food for not too much money. Rice with vegetables is served with all dishes. Very accessible restaurant for those who want to get acquainted with Persian cuisine.

Average

  • Harbor Club Veilinghavenkade 177. - This restaurant is located on the Veilinghaven and has a beautiful view. It mainly offers a lot of fish and some other dishes. A 3-course menu for 2 persons including a bottle of house wine is approximately €80.00.
  • The Color Kitchen, Princess Christianlaan 1. Located in an old school building, this restaurant serves dishes from all over the world. A theater is also located in the building where the Color kitchen is located, the so-called Royal Complex.
  • Restaurant Keuken&Deli, Oosterkade 30, ☎ 31 30 252 2617, e-mail: . Located on the monumental Oosterkade just outside the center. A restaurant that uses organic products and sustainably caught fish with the MSC label. An open kitchen with a unique atmosphere. A 3-course menu for 2 persons including a bottle of house wine is about €70.00
  • Neighborhoods, Burg. Reigerstraat 61, ☎ 31 30 271 9999, e-mail: . On the east side, just outside the center. Has a cozy terrace, and is known for its "neighborhood citizens".

Expensive

  • Restaurant Wilhelmina Park, Wilhelmina Park 65. Located in the middle of the beautiful Wilhelmina Park, this restaurant has regained its former glory. Reservation is necessary.
  • Grand Restaurant Karel V. From 2005 to 2013, it was the only restaurant in Utrecht with a Michelin star.

Utrecht specialties

Utrechters love their Utrecht Spritsen. You can buy these at the better bakeries. In the Schoutenstraat at number 12 is the "Koekebackery Van Den Dubbelden Arend", where an old-fashioned baker's bicycle serves as a sign. Everything on the facade is skewed, exactly as you would expect from such an old building. This is the oldest bakery in Utrecht. Here they sell the one and only original Plat Utrechtse Koek (Plattekoek). A visit to Utrecht is not complete without that cookie.

  • Confectionery Theo Blom, Zadelstraat 23. This one sells the "Domtorentjes"; a large dark chocolate bonbon with a chocolate cream filling.

Going out

Music and theatre

  • The critically acclaimed Vredenburg Music Center (1978) by Herman Hertzberger borders on Hoog-Catharijne. It is one of the main concert halls in the Netherlands, with a large and a small hall. In the coming years, it will be renovated and expanded into the Muziekpaleis in the context of the reconstruction of the Utrecht station area, in collaboration with Tivoli and the SJU. [7]
  • SJU, jazz stage of the Jazz Utrecht Foundation
  • ACU - political cultural center
  • pop stage Ekko at the Walled Weerd
  • pop temple Tivoli on the Oudegracht and the new hall on the Helling
  • City Theatre, Lucas stronghold 24.
  • Theater The Horse Cathedral - in the former stables on the former Veterinary Medicine site on Biltstraat
  • Theater House on the Werf
  • Theater Frog
  • Beatrix Theater
  • rasa. Theater for music and dance.
  • Cultural Center Royal Complex.

stay overnight

Budget

Utrecht does not have many cheap accommodation options. Below are some of the cheaper options.

  • Strowis, Booth Street 8, ☎ 31 30 238 0280, e-mail: . Cheap hostel located in the heart of the city near the Janskerkhof.
  • The Hostel: B&B City Center, Lucas stronghold 4, ☎ 31 6 50434884, e-mail: . Cheap hostel (dorms and rooms, except sheets all inclusive) located opposite the Stadsschouwburg on the Lucasbolwerk.
  • Stayokay Hostel Utrecht - Bunnik, Rhijnauwenselaan 14b Bunnik. Just outside the city in the Amelisweerd landscape park. The city center can be reached in about 15 minutes by bike.
  • Camping Fort on the Klop, 1st polder road 4-6, ☎ 31 30 286 7526, e-mail: . A city camping site with the atmosphere of a natural camping site: that is camping Fort aan de Klop. There is room for 25 tents on the ramparts of the fort.

Average

Expensive

  • Grand Hotel Karel V, Geertebolwerk 1, ☎ 31 30 233 7555, fax machine: 31 30 234 7860, e-mail: . Five star hotel with a Michelin star restaurant. The building complex dates from the 14th century and housed the Land Commandery of the Knightly Teutonic Order for about 450 years. In 1546 Charles V and his sister Mary of Hungary found shelter here. After an impressive restoration, the hotel opened its doors here in 1999.
  • Court Hotel City Center Utrecht, Short Nieuwstraat 14, ☎ 31 30 233 0033, e-mail: . A hotel, situated in the old courthouse of Utrecht. In the heart of the city center and in the Museum Quarter.

Safety

Contact

Phone

To make telephone contact with one of the companies mentioned or someone else in Utrecht from outside the region, the area code 030 must first be dialed.

cell phone

There are 4 different mobile networks available, of which the former state monopoly KPN currently has the best underground coverage in tunnels and metros.

Internet

There are many KPN hotspots, especially in the center.

all around

This is a usable article. It contains information on how to get there, as well as the main attractions, nightlife and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but dive in and expand it!