The 9 Most Unusual Things To Do in Utrecht, the Netherlands
About 30 kilometers south of Amsterdam, Utrecht is often called “the hidden gem of the Netherlands” because it has a long history, a lot of cultural attractions, and not as many tourists as Amsterdam. There are a lot of cool things to see and do in Utrecht, such as the following activities that can only be done there.
Climb the Dom Tower
The Dom Tower is the most famous building in Utrecht. It has been there since the 14th century. This gothic tower was the tallest building in the Netherlands for hundreds of years. At its highest point, it is more than 100 meters tall. Almost every day of the year, you can go into the Dom Tower and climb the 465 steps to the top, where you can see the whole city.
Take a boat tour through Utrecht’s canals
The canals in Utrecht were dug out in the Middle Ages to connect the Rhine to the river Vecht. When compared to other canal networks in the Netherlands, these charming waterways are quite low and are a few meters below Utrecht’s streets. There are many boat tour companies that go through these canals, and you can also rent kayaks in the city.
Check out the city’s subterranean hotspots
Along the canals in Utrecht, there are hundreds of underground wharves that were mostly used as storage for most of their lives. In the past few decades, many of these cellars have been turned into pubs, restaurants, and other businesses. This lets customers enjoy dinner or drinks with friends while seeing the huge spaces hidden beneath Utrecht’s city center.
Cross the road at the Miffy Traffic Light
Dick Bruna, who made Miffy, was one of the most well-known people who lived in Utrecht, and the city government has built several landmarks in his honor. For example, on St. Jacobstraat, there is a traffic light in the shape of Miffy that is next to a rainbow-colored pedestrian crossing.
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Choo-choo-choose to visit the Railway Museum
The Railway Museum in Utrecht has many hands-on displays that tell the history of steam power in the Netherlands and around the world. The museum has a life-size steam train simulator and a live-action exhibit that brings back the magic of the Oriental Express.
Experience a three-dimensional, de Stijl masterpiece
The Rietveld Schroder House in Utrecht is one of the few full examples of De Stijl architecture. This amazing residential building was designed by Gerrit Rietveld in the 1920s. It has spaces inside that can be changed quickly so that people can make their living spaces bigger or smaller. The house is now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of how important it is to culture and history.
Catch a gig at Tivoli
TivoliVredenburg is a multi-story concert hall in Utrecht that hosts dozens of shows every month. It usually books a good mix of well-known, lesser-known, and up-and-coming acts. The venue itself looks amazing and stands tall over the city center of Utrecht. There are five different venues inside, and each one is made for a different style or genre.
Check out Museum Speelklok’s automatons
Clockwork musical instruments of all sizes are collected, fixed up, and put on display at the Speelklok Museum. It has a great collection of historical automatons that were made before electricity was invented but still chime, ding, or clatter without any help from a person.
Drink a beer inside a church
Even though Utrecht has a lot of great bars and pubs, Belgisch Biercafé Olivier stands out because of its amazing location. Inside an old church from the Middle Ages, this charming watering hole with a Belgian style serves dozens of tasty craft beers. The bar is popular with Utrecht residents and has one of the largest beer selections in the city.
Topic: The 9 Most Unusual Things To Do in Utrecht, the Netherlands
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By: Travel Pixy
