Amsterdam is not the only city of canals in Holland. In fact it is one of many. Another beautiful canal city is Utrecht. Situated in the middle of the country, Utrecht houses the largest university and is very much a youthful city. The history however dates back thousands of years to the Stone Age. The Netherlands hold a special place in my heart because I am half Dutch. My mother was conceived in the Netherlands but her family immigrated to Canada and she was born in Calgary, Alberta. I still have family in the Netherlands and every time I go I love getting to know a little more about my Dutch roots.
Back to Utrecht: Although archeological evidence supports a city in the area 4500 years ago, the oldest buildings still standing are from the Middle Ages. One of these structures is the Dom Tower. Building began in the early 1300s and took over half a century to finish. The tower is the remnant of a great cathedral that was planned but never fully completed and in the 17th century the nave collapsed leaving the tower to stand alone several hundred feet from its church.
The Dom Tower is magnificent. Soaring over 350ft high above the old city center the tower has seen so much history, it even predates the formation of the republic of the Netherlands! On a clear day after climbing the 465 steps to the top, you can see the entire city. In the summer they offer the use of their elevator which takes 3 minutes to get (almost) to the top. In order to make the climb you must take a tour and be accompanied by a guide. I found the tour very interesting and worth the ticket price, 10 euros for adults, 5 euros for kids. You stop several times on the way up and learn not only about the history of the tower but also of its bells, some of them are from the 1500s!
Another beautiful thing to do in Utrecht is enjoy dinner canal side. Unlike Amsterdam the canals in Utrecht are lower than the street. The houses that line the canals have a storage area that extends out under the street and right to the canal. This area of the house used to be cellars containing goods that came up from the Rhine River. Now many of these cellars are converted to shops and restaurants. In the summer time a gezellig evening can be spent enjoying delicious food at one such restaurant. Leave the Dom Tower and walk away from the church and after a block you’ll find the main canal turn right and you can look for something that catches your fancy. Gezellig, by the way, is a uniquely Dutch word that is difficult to translate. Google will tell you it mean cozy, which is true, but it encompasses more. I think of it as a warm feeling that radiates through you when you’re enjoying a nice meal surrounded by family or friends and encased in comfort and good conversation. I love that.
It is very easy getting to Utrecht as the train station is one of the busiest is the country. It makes a nice day trip from Amsterdam and is a break from the hustle and bustle of the capital city. I always enjoy seeing somewhere other than the “greatest hits” of a country and Utrecht is off the beaten path for most tourists.
What I want my son to learn when he visits:
I want him to have many Gezellig memories and feel pride to know that in his heart he is a Dutchman! I hope he will lookout on the city of his ancestors and feel a connection there.
Well said Annelise.
Love reading your adventures.
Thank you! I love writing about them.