Stopover in Utrecht

Utrecht is like a mini version of Amsterdam but without the red light district. Canals, bikes, bulbs and street food abound along with the (unfortunately) gloomy weather typical in that part of the world. Utrecht is a university city so even though it’s fairly small it’s bustling with young bike-riding people from around The Netherlands.

The canals are lined with cafes and little boutiques and of course more bikes.

Utrecht has a mixture of architectural styles including Medieval, Art Nouveau and Brutalist architecture. It’s an odd mix but the centre of the city is mostly made up of pretty medieval buildings.

Getting Around

The small Medieval centre of Utrecht is pedestrian friendly and perfect for wandering on foot. If that’s not your thing you could rent a bike and travel like the locals do, just don’t forget where you parked it.

What to Eat

Utrechters seem to love their street food but most of the cafes I passed at lunch time were full too so no one is shying away from eating out. If you’re feeling brave you could try a snack from one of the fast food vending machines but I doubt it will be the foodie highlight of your trip.

For something more civilised, head to Bond en Smolders for their delicious Dutch desserts, chocolates and breads. The specialty is the appelbollen which is kind of like an apple pie but in a ball of pastry or I can recommend the berry cake.

This part of The Netherlands is well known for its dairy products so anything with lots of butter, cream or cheese is sure to be good.

Not surprisingly, the drink of choice in Utrecht is beer but for something different try the egg liqueur Advocaat. It’s often served as an aperitif but is also used in desserts or topped with cream and chocolate.

I haven’t spent much time in The Netherlands but I find cities like Utrecht to be adorable so I hope I’ll have the chance to visit more of the country in the future. Where are your favourite places to visit in The Netherlands?