Holiday in Utrecht

About Utrecht

Utrecht is the best-kept secret of the Netherlands – a medieval university city that has everything that made Amsterdam famous, just without the tourist crowds and with significantly more charm. The unique wharf cellars along the canals, known as Wharf Cellars, are one of a kind in the world: While in Amsterdam you look down at the canals, in Utrecht you descend to water level, where restaurants, cafés, and terraces hide in the medieval vaults. Sitting on one of these wharf terraces on a summer evening, with the water just an arm's length away, is one of the most beautiful urban experiences in Europe. The Dom Tower, at 112 meters the tallest church tower in the Netherlands, dominates the skyline and offers a panoramic view after 465 steps that, on clear days, reaches as far as Amsterdam. The special thing: The church nave between the tower and the choir was destroyed by a hurricane in 1674 and was never rebuilt – the tower and choir remain separated to this day, connected only by the Dom Square, Utrecht's pulsating heart. Utrecht is a young, vibrant city: Around 70,000 students shape the nightlife, café culture, and creative scene. The Voorstraat and the streets around the Neude are full of independent boutiques, vintage shops, and record stores. The Rietveld-Schröder House, a UNESCO World Heritage site and masterpiece of the De Stijl movement, is located on the outskirts and is a must for architecture fans. For German travelers, Utrecht is the perfect stopover: Just 50 minutes from Amsterdam, located directly at the main train station, and reachable from the Ruhr area in under three hours by ICE.