Utrecht and the surrounding area :- Part 5

Places worth a visit

Aboriginal Art Museum

This is a strange location to have this focus on contemporary Australian Aboriginal art. It displays the paintings of the Central Desert and also photography by urban artists.

Sonnenborgh Museum and Observatory

The Sonnenborgh is actually two museums in one. The upper area is a display on the history of astronomy. It is on a site that was among the foremost astronomical research sites on earth at its peak. The lower areas are the foundations of the original bastions it' s built upon. The displays are a little dated compared to similar museums but the site is special as it is perched on a hill overlooking the Singel. At certain times you are allowed a chance to look through the ancient telescopes. You can view the sun from 1 pm until 5 pm on a Sunday and the moon, stars and planets from 8 pm to 9:30 pm on a Friday. These options are only available from April to September and cost around €10. If you want the evening option then you really need to book online. There' s also a mini planetarium which is based on the one in Franeker, Friesland in the library.

Museum voor het Kruideniersbedrijf

You will find this tucked away down a narrow lane and it is a charming replica of an old-style grocery store. Here you will find lovely assistants in aprons who will measure out sweets and tea from decorative containers. Here you can also buy a block of white liquorice candy which you should add to hot milk. It’s meant to be an old Dutch tradition, but I did not try it.

Museum Speelklok

This museum has a large collection of player organs from the 18th century onwards. They give hourly tours and demonstrate them with passion. A trip around the restoration workshop lets you get an inside view of how these mechanical marvels actually work.

Other activities around the area

Canal tours are a staple way to see around this type of town. Hour-long canal tours will give you the chance to see both the old town and the old water level warehouses. The landing departure point is on Oudegracht just south of Lange Viestraat. If you are feeling adventurous then you can rent canal bikes and pedal boats from in front of the municipal library. The cost for 90 minutes is currently €9. 50 per person.

There are a number of Festivals & Events held in the area. The two major ones being:-

The Holland Festival Oude Muziek which celebrates music from the Middle Ages to the Baroque period.

The Nederlands Film Festival; the Dutch film industry is small but often is generally good. If you are around when it’s on you can find out for yourself. It finishes which with a top prize, the Golden Calf.

Continued in part 6