‘Must see’ in Utrecht
If you are visiting the city soon, we recommend staying at one of our hotels in Utrecht. As for example in the NH Centre Utrecht, as it is located in an ideal place to take advantage of the time and explore the city. Our brief introduction by foot to the neighborhood starts by heading out of our doors and taking the pedestrian pass over the railway station.
You will immediately begin to get a feel for this city as you wander down Lange Elisabethstraat and then onto Steenweg passing numerous brand name stores and boutiques. Continue until just before the road reaches the canal where you will find our first stop, the Museum Speelklok. Be intrigued by the collection of small music boxes, self-playing organs and a selection of other items that date back up to 200 years.
From the converted church museum we’re going to make our way north, across the Bezembrug bridge and up Vinkenburgstraat until a large square opens up for you. Neude, as it is known, may not go down as one of Europe’s most spectacular spaces, but it is a great spot to grab a coffee or beer and enjoy watching the locals go about their daily routine.
Completely renovated, exit the square from the northeast corner and follow Janskerkhof as you turn south on the way to our next stop among the things to do in Utrecht. Along the way, keep an eye out for impressive statues, including one of Anne Frank, a mandatory stop to make on the list about what to do in Utrecht, and old buildings such as the Romanesque Janskerk.
The Domtoren stands at just over 112 meters – the tallest church tower in the country – and is a useful landmark to gather your bearings in the city. A very fun challenge could be to climb the 465 steps to its top to enjoy the best view in Utrecht, even providing you with a glimpse of distant Amsterdam if there are no clouds in the way.
Dating back to the 14th century this medieval structure cannot be missed, literally, and that goes for the bells that continue to ring. It’s worth noting the tower can be reached directly from the Museum Speelklok by crossing the canal to the east.
Up until the middle of the 17th century the tower was connected to St Martin’s Cathedral, but a tornado destroyed the church’s nave and they have remained apart ever since. A different type of damage is still in evidence within the cathedral as statues and extravagant shows of wealth from the Catholic Church were smashed during the protestant reformation of 1580.
If you need a quiet place to relax, certainly one of the things to do in Utrecht is to see this impressive building steeped in history. Note too that next to the church is a beautifully kept garden, perfect for disconnecting and relaxing.
After you’ve seen enough of the cathedral, wander down Lange Nieuwstraat, parallel to the canal, until you get to Museum Catharinjneconvent. Here you will find a unique collection showing how Christianity – both protestant and catholic – arrived in the Netherlands, what it is like today, and how expectations for its future are being seen.
Continue down the same road for just a handful of minutes and you will reach Central Museum, the country’s oldest municipal museum. It hosts the world’s largest collection of works by Dutch designer Gerrit Rietveld, more than 3,000 objects, and you can also find out more about the author and illustrator behind the iconic Miffy, Dick Bruna.
As we steer you back towards the hotel in a northwesterly direction, cut along Lange Rozendaal in search of Geertekerk, stopping off at Café Lijn. There you can get the caffeine shot you need to continue completing the list of things to see in Utrecht. This Medieval church has elements, including its tower, dating back to the 13th century although a full restoration job was required in 1956 to bring it to the state it currently displays.
A final stroll up Springweg will take you past a number of historical buildings and you can take in the Pandhof Sinte Marie. This open courtyard is home to a cornucopia of flowers, plants, medicinal herbs and even a butterfly garden, while the cloister from the 11th century is all that remains of the church that once stood here.
