Editing Utrecht (section)

==Sights and activities==

Check [[100 things to do in Utrecht]]

'''Utrecht Free Tour'''

If you are in Utrecht on a saturday, don't forget to do the [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Utrecht-Free-Tours/235031053204797 Utrecht Free Tour]

'''Monuments'''

* The [http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=museumkwartier%20utrecht&w=all&s=int '''Museumkwartier'''] (the area south of the Dom Church) is the best preserved part of the medieval centre. It has a very friendly, small scale atmosphere and is ideal to wander around in. Most monuments of Utrecht are found in this part:

* Utrecht was (according to some still is) the centre of Catholicism in the Netherlands. Therefore the centre is loaded with churches. Info about these churches can be found in [http://www.kerkenkijken.nl/english.aspx here].

* The '''Dom Church''' (official the Saint Martinschurch) is Utrechts landmark. The 112,5 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dom_Tower_of_Utrecht '''Dom Tower'''] is the highest of the country and can be seen all around the city. 7,50 for [http://www.domtoren.nl/default.asp?action=pagina&pagina=2055&taal=1&sId=123&click=1426&path=_1180_1426 climbing] it can seem expensive, but it is worth it. You'll get a guided tour with a lot of info and the view from up the tower is unique. The entrance to the church is free (allthough gifts are very welcome). From the inside the church might seem small, this is mainly because half of it collapsed (separating the church and tower and creating the Domsquare). Don't forget the teahouse, you'll have a nice view to the monastry-garden in there. 

* '''The wharfs''' (lower level of the canals) are unique in the world and might be world heritage in a few years. In the museumkwartier the wharfs are quiet and mostly untouched by modern times, in the centre most warf are filled with bars and restaurants.

* At the campus of the Utrecht-university there is a lot of interesting '''modern architecture''', more about architecture in Utrecht in [http://www.aorta.nu/en/ here]

* Some '''districts''' outside of the centre are also very worth to stroll around in. The '''Vogelenbuurt''', just north of the centre was the first district outside of the city walls, most of it looks so small scale and friendly you might forget that you left the medieval city. Best part of the district is the walk from across the Gruttersdijk, Bemuurde Weerd to the Windmill de Adelaar on the Adelaarstraat '''Lombok''' shows multiculturalism in a positive way, allthough a lot of yuppies moved in recently, the district is still known as small Turkey. The Kanaalstraat is the booming central shoppingstreet of this district. Along the Leidscheweg  you'll find 19th century posh-mansions, a [http://www.houtzaagmolen-de-ster.nl/ working windmill] ending up with a great view on the Leidschekade. '''Wittevrouwen''' is know as the rich neighbourhood where mostly doctors and lawyers work in beautifull houses. Also a lot of students live in those houses and therefore on nice summerdays the central park, [http://www.wilhelminapark.com/ Wilhelminapark] is full of activity. Other nice parks are '''Lepelburg''' (small but right in the centre), '''Griftpark''' (built over the waste of a old factory) and '''park Oog in al''' (in a Brittish country-style).

'''Shopping'''

A lot of Dutch people know Utrecht as a good city to shop in, for a big deal this is caused by 'Hoog Catharijne'; the big shopping mall around the train station which all people from Utrecht claim never to go to, but is always crowded. Best places for shopping are to be found outside of Hoog Catharijne. Keep an eye out for the small streets just next to the big shopping streets.

* '''Oudegracht''': on the south side of the Oudegracht there are a lot of shops known as geekshops (games, fantasy, comics, etc), but also some secondhandstores like [http://www.kringloopcentrumutrecht.nl/ A.R.M.] and [http://www.secondsas.nl/ secondsas] On this part of the Oudegracht there is a big shop with professional [http://maps.google.nl/maps?hl=nl&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:nl:official&q=Oudegracht+260+utrecht&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl Hiking gear]

* '''Voorstraat''': this street has shown a lot of development in recent years. There are a lot of interesting Vintageshops in the nowadays [www.sussies.eu/ Sussies], Cents Modes, Label Lidwien, . 

* '''Kanaalstraat''': The centre of the multicultural district [http://www.lombox.nl/index.html Lombok], in here you can find all the Turkish and Marrokan food you want for excellent prices. Persepolis has a great supply of Iranian products, but is a little bit less cheap than the Turkish shops. In [http://www.mortys.nl/ Mortys] you'll find some excellent cheeses amongst some organic products. 

* '''Amsterdamsestraatweg''' was founded by Napoleon as a fast, paved, route directly to Amsterdam. The southern part of the street is now a very multicultiral shoppingstreet. Next to a lot of turkish shopws there is also a big Asian shop, Greek shops and even a Slavic/Russian shop. 

* '''Twijnstraat''' on the southern end of the Oudegracht is a cosy small-scale shoppingstreet. There are some vintage-stores (like Transit), a iceshop, a cheeseshop, a organic shop, but the most famous shop is [http://www.bertsbierhuis.nl/ Berts Bierhuis], a small place that sells a very big supply of international (and local) Beers.

* Near Neude there is a good shop with [http://maps.google.nl/maps?q=Vinkenburgstraat+7+utrecht&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:nl:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&sa=N&tab=wl Travel books]

* The biggest '''market''' is on the central square of 'Vredenburg' on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

* Once a month there is a market with regional products called [http://www.destreekmarkt.nl/ De Streekmarkt].

* As written before there are several '''Vintage'''-stores can be found in the Voorstraat, Twijnstraat and Oudegracht. Also Springhaver can be interesting for 2nd had shopping. The Vintagestores are not always cheap. Cheapest 2nd hand can be found at [http://www.kringloopcentrumutrecht.nl/ A.R.M.] on Oudegracht and Verlengde Hoogravense weg and [http://www.emmaus-utrecht.nl/ Emmaus] on several places all around the city (for locations check the section ´vestigingen´ on their website).

'''Musea'''

Utrecht hasn't got the impressive big museums that Amsterdam offers, but still a lot of nice ones that are worth to visit. 

* The [http://www.centraalmuseum.nl/page.ocl?pageID=69&mode=&version=&MenuID=0 '''Centraal Museum'''] offers a lot of modern art (but also the remains of a Viking ship and has very good temporary exhibitions. A combi ticket is for sale with which you can also visit the Nijntjehuis and Rietveldhuis.

* '''Nijntje''' is a famous rabbit from Utrecht starring in a lot of childrens books that are very big in Japan as Miffy. Nijntje is still  being drawn in Utrecht by Dick Bruna who is in his 80s now. Just next to the central museum Nijntje has it's own [http://www.dickbrunahuis.com/ museum of house]. The Nijntje-house is very suitable for young children and adults in a silly mood (don't forget the crazy amount of merchandise). 

* '''The [http://www.rietveldschroderhuis.nl/ Rietveld-schroderhuis]''' is one of the most famous creation of the 20ies modernist purist movement 'De Stijl'. The house is on the worldheritagelist and is now a museum for designer Gerrit Rietveld. 

* '''The [http://www.aamu.nl/ Aboriginal art museum]''' not a anthropological museum but a museum about the art being created by the native inhabitants of Australia. The museum is a potential eye-opener in the way to look at other cultures. 

* Utrecht is THE train hub of the Netherlands so the obvious place for a museum about the '''[http://www.spoorwegmuseum.nl/en/index.html/ Dutch railways]'''

* Utrecht was an important creator of coins, in the building used to make coins there is now a museum about '''[http://www.geldmuseum.nl/ money]'''.

* A lot of scientific stuff is shown on the [http://www.uu.nl/uupublish/4192main.html University museum]

* '''Wijk C''' is a very small park of the old centre with a very special folk atmosphere, a [http://www.wijkc.nl/documents/volksbuurtmuseum.html museum] tells about it's history.

* The Moluks are a part of Indonesia, aftewr the indepence-wars in the 40ies, a lot of '''Molukkans''' fought on the Dutch side and left for the Netherlands in hope for their future independance (which never came), a [http://www.museum-maluku.nl/ museum] tells their story.

* Museum [http://www.museumspeelklok.nl/ Speelklok tot Pierlement], about mechanical musical instruments, is located in a old church. 

'''Tourist Info''' 

* There is a tourism office located in the Domplein: VVV Utrecht - Domplein 9 - UTRECHT [http://www.vvv.nl/vvvkantoor.aspx?vvvid=3624 VVV Utrecht] Here you can get information about Utrecht, walking routes, tickets to climb the Dom tower, cute and nice (but not cheap) souviners, calenders and books - historical, regional, national in dutch and english.
* [http://www.utrechtyourway.nl Utrecht your way] In english too.
* Or for more info about tourism in Utrecht [http://www.goutrecht.nl/uk.html here] 


'''Around Utrecht'''

* http://utrechttevoet.nl/ has a nice collection of interesting walking paths in and around Utrecht

* the Gothic fake-castle [http://www.kasteeldehaar.nl/ de Haar] and the pittoresque village of [http://www.haarzuilens.net/ '''Haarzuilens''']

* Fortresses of the [http://www.hollandsewaterlinie.nl/ '''nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie''']

* '''Nature''' around Utrecht, like [http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelisweerd Amelisweerd] (with an [http://www.veldkeuken.nl/?content=page&id=5 organic farm])


'''Sporting activities'''

* [http://www.rijnstroom.nl/ Canoeing] on the Kromme Rijn

* [http://www.recreatiemiddennederland.nl/terreinen.html Water recreation] 

* [http://www.canal.nl/bike/en/utrecht Waterbiking]

* [http://www.fietspad.nl/Fietsroutes/Utrecht/ Biking]

* [http://www.wzzrd.nl/?page=44 GPS cat and mouse game]