Utrecht

Utrecht is a 2000 year old city founded by the Romans. Utrecht is the fourth city of the Netherlands. One of the most characteristic features of Utrecht, which is unique in the world, are the below street level canals with their own wharfs. If you go to the lower street level at the canals you can find many fancy restaurants and Dutch pancake houses to enjoy. As Utrecht arguably has the most stunning canals in the Netherlands it’s fun to rent a pedal boat and go through the canals on water.

The biggest cathedral of the Netherlands, the Dom church, is located in the heart of the city. The 112 meters high gothic church towers over the city. The church is open to visitors if you’re up to the challenge of climbing it’s narrow stairs. The city center also has lots of terraces and cafes where you can enjoy a beer in the sun. This is because Utrecht has the biggest universities of the Netherlands. So there are lots of students who enjoy a pint during the day. It’s no wonder that Utrecht also has a very active nightlife with lots of cozy cafes, cinemas and discotheques.

Utrecht is located in the heart of the Netherlands and is a choke point for public transportation, so if you take the train from Amsterdam you can be there in 30 minutes. It’s great infrastructure and large shopping center has caused Utrecht to become a popular shopping destination. It’s definitely a recommended place to visit.