SIGHTSEEING IN THE NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands might be a small country, yet it still has so many beautiful attractions, landmarks, and activities to offer that you simply cannot miss out on. For you to start to explore your new home, we have a small guide with the must-see attractions in Utrecht and the surrounding cities.

Let’s start with your new hometown. Now that you have finally arrived in Utrecht, it’s time to discover your new surroundings and find your favorite spots in the city. Starting with the most obvious landmark that just can’t be overlooked, the Domkerk and it’s Domtoren. The Domtoren is the tallest church tower at 112 meters and 32 centimeters in the Netherlands.

Not only does Utrecht have the tallest cathedral tower, but it also has the biggest castle in the Netherlands, just outside of the city. Although the Kasteel de Haar has a long history stretching to the 14th century, the castle that you can now visit was renovated in 1892 until 1907 in a gothic revival style. The castle offers a rich amount of history, exhibitions, different events, and a beautiful garden.

The city is also full of cute tiny canals and bridges called the Oudegracht, which were used for transportation within the North and South of Holland making them significant for the transportation of goods between the Northern Part and the Southern part of The Netherlands. The Oudegracht is 2 kilometers long, and the best way to discover the beauty of the Oudegracht, and the city, is a canoe tour with some friends on a sunny day.

Are most of your courses located at the Science Park of Utrecht? If not, you still need to visit the Utrecht University Botanic Garden, you can just simply not miss out on this beauty. Luckily for all Utrecht University and Hogeschool Utrecht students the entrance is free.

Den Haag is the city with the seat of the government in the Netherlands and offers fun attractions, and not to forget it is right on the coast of the North Sea. Scheveningen is the main beach of The Hague with a wide variety of different beach bars for everybody. Scheveningen also has De Pier where brave ones can even attempt bungee jumping.

Next is Madurodam, if you are interested in seeing tiny buildings and other miniature objects check it out out. It is even more special than a simple miniature world because the objects are moving just as in real life, so for instance boats on the canals are moving or the planes are taking off and landing.

Last but certainly not least is Amsterdam. Amsterdam is just a 20-minute train ride away from Utrecht and of course, you have to visit the unique capital of The Netherlands. So the main attraction to see in Amsterdam is the Rijksmuseum, which is the national museum of the Netherlands. The museum features national art and historical monuments. It is located at the Museumplein where you can also find the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk South, the Moco Museum and the Concertgebouw.

The next attraction is the A’dam Tower, located in the South of Amsterdam offers a unique variety of an observation deck, a restaurant, a bar, even a night club and the famous over the edge swing. Are you brave enough to swing?

Due to its history and the attack by Germans in 1940, the contemporary city looks much different from all the other cities in the Netherlands. Many buildings are much more modern than your typical dutch buildings. This new and abstract architecture can be seen in the Markthal. The Markthal has a variety of market stands which are offering cheese, Mexican food, pastries, Greek food, fish, spices, and anything else that your heart could possibly desire.

From one unique building to the other, why not also discover the Euromast? The Euromast was built in 1961 and is the tallest building in Rotterdam, with a height of 186 meters. So go check out a beautiful 360º view of Rotterdam.

Lastly, an experience to not miss out on if you like an occasional beer is the Heineken Experience. Heineken is a Dutch-produced beer that is known and enjoyed globally, so why not find out how it is made and its history?

ESN TRIPS!TRIP

Of course, there are so many different unique attractions and landmarks in the Netherlands that cannot be missed out. For instance, the Keukenhof, which is one of the most extensive gardens in the world. To visit all of these, you can sign up with ESN on day or weekend trips!