Welcome to
Utrecht, Netherlands + Add a trip
- Not far from: Amsterdam, Kreis Kleve, The Hague, Rotterdam
People travel from here to The Hague, London and Berlin, and to here from Brugge and Antwerp.
Local time is 5:22am. Map and information at Geonames - Travel information at WikiTravel.org
Tips for Utrecht
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Alef suggestsGood clothing at the Mariaplaats
Added September 3rdMariaplaats
cris on the Mariaplaats in Utrecht has a nice selection of the finest brands... FIRMA, Hope, Mauro Grifoni, Daniele Alessandrini, Rick Owens and many other brands... One of the few better stores for men in Utrecht...
www.whoiscris.nl -
Kars suggestsCafé Jan Primus
Added April 27th 2008Jan van Scorelstraat 31
Allegedly the place that introduced the Netherlands to the special beer café concept. This is a great place for beer lovers. Very brown, very local, no music is played—the focus is on conversation and, well, drinking. There's always a good number of specials on tap and more on bottle then you will be able to drink in a life time.
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Lee suggestsBelgian Retaurant Olivier
Added June 6th 2008Achter Clarenburg, at the exit of the Hoog Catherijne shopping mall
My favorite restaurant in Utrech, built in an old church with a very lively atmosphere. Go for the "beenhammetje" (ham on a big bone) and the Corsendonk Agnus Dei beer, afterwards ask for the beer sorbet or one of the desserts of the day! Oh, and did I tell you that the fries are amazing with real mayonaise? ;-)
www.cafe-olivier.be
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Getting There
Automobiles
Parking is hellish. Everyone uses trams or a bicycle.
Planes
A taxi from the airport costs around €45. For the most laid-back ride into town, Ralph's taxi service offers a superior, leather-interiored TV-toting Merc (email ralph.q.s@worldonline.nl).
Trains
A 20-minute train from Schiphol airport to the city centre costs about €6 one-way.
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Local Knowledge
Dialing
Country code for the Netherlands: 31. Amsterdam: 20.
Reads
The Diary of Anne Frank; Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach; Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier.
Do go / Don't Go
Weekends are busy all year round, and September is a big time for conferences, so book ahead.
Cuisine
Hearty, rib-sticking Northern fare, as well as herring, smoked eel, and Indonesian rijsttafel ('rice table'), an army of small spicy dishes.
Taxis
There are ranks all over, but you can usually hail; tip ten per cent. Beware of unlicensed mini-cabs.
Tipping
The Dutch aren't big tippers; ten per cent is usually about right, and it's common to give the bartender a euro with every round.
Currency
Euro.
Packing
Bicycle clips; puncture kit; an open mind.
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Worth Doing
Arts
Van Gogh Museum (www.vangoghmuseum.nl), Rijksmuseum (www.rijksmuseum.nl), Stedelijk Modern Art Museum (www.stedelijk.nl).
And...
Go with the flow in restaurants - Dutch service can be very laid-back.
Shopping
For designer labels, go to PC Hooftstraat. We prefer the Nine Streets - a grid within the canal network that is packed with boutiques and curiosity shops. We love DOM on Spuistraat, for all kinds of items you never thought you needed. Spmrkt is a warehouse of all things retro and cool: books, fashion, furniture, art. Spiegelstraat is renowned for antiques. For markets, on Saturdays and Mondays head to Noordermarkt for organic food and bric-à-brac, or the bigger, touristier Waterlooplein market for second-hand clothes. Albert Cuypmarkt in the Pijp claims to be Europe's longest street market.
Viewpoint
Owing to topography and building-height restrictions, nothing is that high up, but your best shot is the café on the sixth floor of Metz department store on Leidsestraat.
Something
In April or May, take a drive out to the tulip fields and feast your eyes.
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Diary
30 April Queen's Day - the whole of Amsterdam is on holiday and the canals come alive. May National Cycling Day on the second Saturday sees thousands pedalling through town. August Classical concerts on the canals; Gay Pride, when the city is awash with revellers (www.amsterdampride.nl). 5 December St Nicholas Day kicks off the Christmas festivities.
