Utrecht Trip Overview
Whereas the NY Times describes Utrecht as a city that deserves more than a pleasant day trip from Amsterdam, according to a leading Australian news site the city has the most beautiful canals of Europe.
They are right; with its iconic Dom Tower, churchyards, the old center and its canals, Utrecht is absolutely beautiful. Meet your guide from a multiple award-winning tour operator in the heart of the city and set off on a historical and cultural walking tour.
Learn about the city’s history that started around 2,000 years ago, when Utrecht was part of the northern border of the Roman Empire. Walk through little cobbled streets and churchyards; all leading to what has been for centuries the city’s main artery, the 1.5 mi long old canal Oudegracht.
Walk through the Zeven Steegjes, an idyllic complex of small row-houses on tight, cobbled streets. The last stop and the end point of the walking tour is the Dom Church that with its dominating tower is Utrecht’s pride and joy.
Additional Info
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Starts: Utrecht, Netherlands
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Utrecht Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Utrecht, , Netherlands
Whereas the NY Times describes Utrecht as a city that deserves more than a pleasant day trip from Amsterdam, according to a leading Australian news site the city has the most beautiful canals of Europe.
They are right; with its iconic Dom Tower, churchyards, the old center and its canals, Utrecht is absolutely beautiful. Meet your guide from a multiple award-winning tour operator in the heart of the city and set off on a historical and cultural walking tour.
Learn about the city’s history that started around 2,000 years ago, when Utrecht was part of the northern border of the Roman Empire. Walk through little cobbled streets and churchyards; all leading to what has been for centuries the city’s main artery, the 1.5 mi long old canal Oudegracht.
Walk through the Zeven Steegjes, an idyllic complex of small row-houses on tight, cobbled streets. The last stop and the end point of the walking tour is the Dom Church that with its dominating tower is Utrecht’s pride and joy.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Utrecht, Utrecht
Set off on a cultural and historical journey by foot of Utrecht and discover the magnificent architecture and cultural life of this non-touristy city. Located conveniently in the middle of the country, Utrecht can be reached by direct train from Amsterdam (30 min), Rotterdam (45 min), Amersfoort (15 min).
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Domplein, 3512 JE Utrecht, Netherlands
Meet your private guide right in front of the statue of Jan Van Nassau on Domplein (Dom Square). On this square horse trams drove across until they were replaced by the electric tram. The lights in the pavement show the contours of the outer walls of the Castellum. The cobblestones show the contours of the once collapsed nave.
Duration: 5 minutes
Pass By: Oudegracht, 3511 Utrecht, Netherlands
The former moat Oudegracht (Old Canal) is a 2-km long canal, which crosses the city from north to south. Maartensbrug is the bridge that crosses the part of the canal that already existed in Roman times. It is the oldest still existing bridge, dating back to the early 1400s (1404).
Pass By: Utrecht, Utrecht
Pass by the row with tiny houses (Almshouses) that were built for the poor in 1579. It is named after the founder, Adriaen Beyer, who had made his fortune available for the poor. Because the houses had only one room with a small attic, the houses were called ‘Beyer Rooms’. For every two houses, there was an outside cubicle with a cesspool. The ‘loo’ was very narrow so the door couldn’t close.
Pass By: De Werfkelder, Oudegracht aan de Werf 97, 3511 AL Utrecht, Netherlands
There are over 730 wharf cellars along the canals of Utrecht; storages bordering the wharfs so goods could be stored immediately after unloading ships. As far as known, the oldest wharf dates from 1150, when a merchant dug a tunnel from the basement of his house up to the bank of the canal. Later, the cellars were also used as brewery and marketplace. From 1900, lots of wharf cellars fell into despair because of the increase of road freight. After WWII, restorations of the cellars, wharfs and quay walls began. In many former cellars are now restaurants, galleries and shops.
Pass By: Neude, Utrecht, Utrecht The Netherlands
Until the end of the 15th century, this square was a swampy area. There was a need for land, so the swampy ground was strengthened and raised with sand, stones and debris. From 15th until the 19th centuries the square served was a market square. Executions also took place here.
Until the 1990s the square used to be a parking lot, but now it’s a festival square and there are lots of cafés. Translated the name means “swampy ground”.
Pass By: Dom Tower, Domplein 21, 3512 JE Utrecht The Netherlands
The Dom Tower is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands. It was part of the Cathedral of Saint Martin, also known as Dom Church, but the cathedral was never fully completed due to lack of money.
Since the unfinished nave collapsed in 1674, it has been a free standing tower, located on the spot where the city of Utrecht originated nearly 2,000 years ago.
The walking tour ends at the Dom Tower, so that you have the option to climb the tower.
Pass By: St. Catharinakathedraal, Lange Nieuwstraat 36, 3512 PH Utrecht, Netherlands
The construction of this monastery complex for Carmelites began in 1468. In 1560, construction was completed by the brothers of St. John, a Roman Catholic knighthood with a sovereign status. From 1636, the church was used by Protestants, but after the religious freedom the church was again in the hands of Catholics.
