Spotter since 2025
Hi there! My name is Rienje, I've been living in Utrecht for the past 8 years now. As an urban geographer, I always prefer cities (big or small) over the countryside (although I love that too!). In my opinion, locals provide a better and more sustainable insight into a city than regular travel guides or blogs with affiliate links.
Utrecht is great because of its laid-back vibe and student atmosphere, as well as great nightlife, culture and nature right around the corner. For me, a major benefit is also that it's not so touristy like Amsterdam or Rotterdam. This creates a fun atmosphere, where a lot of different events and venues are being created and opened, but they don't become instantly over-hyped and crowded. And of course it has a very beautiful and quite large historic center, as many other Dutch cities. I hope I have convinced you that this city can't be missing from your itinerary. :)
Café Averechts' music nights on Friday evenings are the best. All events are free. Here, it's completely normal to start a conversation with people of all ages.
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Weerdsluis is great place to catch the last rays of afternoon sun & see the water level rise and fall. Grab a few drinks and enjoy them on the duckboard!
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Escape the buzzing center of Utrecht with a calm walk in the forests of Rhijnauwen and Amelisweerd. Then enjoy a warm drink or Dutch pancakes nearby!
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At O'Panuozzo the pizzas are absolutely delicious and reasonably priced. At Voorstraat they have a cat, a terrace & a wide open window along the street!
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Cafe DeRat is a great place to grab some beers with a friend and enjoy the brown tavern ambience. They have a huge selection of beers, also gluten-free!
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The wooden furnishings and friendly service of Springhaver make it feel like a home away from home and its terrace catches sun rays until late afternoon.
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Boulderhal Sterk is a very social climbing hall. The staff and visitors are really friendly, and usually, people help each other figure out the routes.
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Write about everything you 🤍 but skip touristic highlights