Utrecht and the surrounding area - Part 1

When you visit Amsterdam and the surrounding area many people forget that the small province of Utrecht is close by. Its namesake city is both lively and interesting with its tree-lined canals and medieval quarter. It has lots of bars and cafes but for those that want a quite life then you can visit more than a dozen museums, all of which are very good. If that does not appeal then just wandering the backstreets and immersing yourself in reminders of the 17th century can also be very pleasant.

This is not just a city-state as the surrounding area has plenty to offer. You can hire a bike and explore ancient castles like the wonderful Kasteel de Haar which is right on the cities doorstep. If you go to the east you will find the Randstad, a large park which stretches for some distance, the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, which has many magnificent estates. Also, nearby Amersfoort is just full of medieval character; it also honours its native son, Piet Mondrian, and his minimalist, angular views.

So now that I have convinced you to visit what’s the best time of year to go? Well as Utrecht is at the heart of the country the weather is pretty much average for most of the time. That means it tends to be cold and wet in the winter and can be chilly for the spring and autumn as well. However, perfectly clear and sunny days do pop up all the time, especially from April to October. So these are the best times if you are planning to take any bike rides around the province. In Utrecht city, there are beer fests in the autumn when many cafés and bars have a seasonal brew on tap.

The city of Utrecht is one of the Netherlands' oldest cities. As such it has a typical compact medieval centre, set out around canals which are fairly unique to the Netherlands. There is also a lower level where warehouses were located in the 13th century. This gives the canals a split-level character and meaning that diners and drinkers can walk down off the streets to enjoy a snack or a drink down at water level.

While the canals have always formed Utrecht's core, elsewhere the city has been busy reinventing itself. Part of this ongoing transformation can be seen in roads such as Catharijnebaan which are being turned back into the canals they once were. There is also a spectacular new train station which is nearing completion and this adds an easy route to the old town. This is joined next door by a greatly expanded concert hall that now includes five venues. The population is currently around 335, 000 but Utrecht' s students make up about 40, 000 of this figure and it is now the largest education area in the country.

Continued in part 2