Location: Utrecht
Top Things to do in Utrecht
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What to do and see in Utrecht, Utrecht Province: The Best Specialty Museums
This ancient and historic city houses many buildings going back to the early Middle Ages. Until it was overtaken by Amsterdam in the Dutch Golden age, Utrecht was the most important city in the Netherlands. It was and still is the See of the Archbishop of Utrecht, the most important Catholic leader in the Netherlands. The University of Utrecht is the largest in the Netherlands. One of the unique features of the city is the wharf system in its inner canals. Before the city was fully canalized, parts of the Rhine River flowed through the city center. Most prominent of the historic buildings is the Gothic Cathedral of Saint Martin, the construction of which lasted for almost 200 year, beginning in 1254.
Restaurants in Utrecht
1. Railway Museum (Het Spoorwegmuseum)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,322 reviews
Reviewed By alanmN9119AF - St. Andrews, United Kingdom
Getting there by train is great it allows you to slow down and forget the rush of the journey to get there. The old station is a step back to a older time. Big ornate and some nice exhibits The WC are old style but modern level of hygiene a difficult balance to achieve. A train on the platform to enter and walk through. Watch out for the cow mooing in the cattle truck as you pass. The other side of the line is the new building. This houses even more of the collection and you have space to move round the exhibits. The building shows its engineering, no pretence of a railway building transformed, suspended walkways and loco 107 up in the air. The interaction screen for her is great. As you turn the monitor you get information on the bit you are looking at. New technology working on old technology, it made me smile. A glimpse at the library / archive made me drool and wonder what treasures it held. A audio story of a walk down to and through the first railways of the Netherlands is informative, human and good ( it can be in English) look out for the mouse. Another section is a “rollercoaster ride” around some exhibits. Fast, slow, dark and light all make it an experience to remember. One of the Orient Express coaches has Europe on one side and Eastern Mediterranean on the other. Showing the beginning and end of the journey, cleverly done. The shop is squarely aimed at the younger ones but that said the technical books were of interest to me even if only in Dutch. The Museum book is good and gives more than the normal simple high level snippet of information on an item. All in all a great way to spend a day. Food is available and coffee is what you would expect from the Dutch good and strong. This is not the only time ill be there I will return as there is more to see.
2. Museum Speelklok
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 846 reviews
Museum Speelklok, the most cheerful museum in the Netherlands! During a visit to the typical Dutch Museum Speelklok, cheerful live music will surround you from centuries-old self-playing musical instruments. The history of these instruments started back in 16th century the Netherlands with the use of church carillons. Over the centuries, the general desire of people to be surrounded by music, led to the invention of all sorts of self-playing musical instruments: musical clocks, musical boxes, orchestrions (self-playing orchestras) and the traditional Dutch street organs. All of these instruments, including the famous street organ named Arabier and the so-called 8th world wonder the Violina, can be admired and heard during the lively museum tour. Thanks to the highly skilled Restoration Workshop, the collection is kept playing and this craft can be passed on from this generation to the next.
Reviewed By Incurable_Romantic - Alexandria, United States
Who’d a thunk you could build a huge museum in a several hundred year-old church filled with centuries worth of musical clocks, automatic organs/pianos, music boxes, and even an automated violin player? Bizarre, fun, and funny! Absolutely MUST do the guided tour, to actually hear the collection play music. Totally a blast!
3. DOMunder
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 389 reviews
Discover 2000 years of Utrecht history underneath the Domplein square. Explore the archaeological findings, that date back up to the Roman Castellum ‘Trajectum’, with an interactive flashlight. Walking through the huge pillar foundations of the medieval Gothic Dom Cathedral, history literally springs to life. Experience the destructive tornado of 1674. Daily tours on regular departure times (closed on Monday)
Reviewed By francien2015 - Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Located in the old castellum of Trajectum the DOM under provides an insight in the development of utrecht trough the ages by visited underground ruins really nice to visit
4. Kruideniers Museum
5. Nederlands Volksbuurtmuseum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 62 reviews
Reviewed By 68francak - Utrecht, The Netherlands
Cosy, small museum, which gives an insight in the life of people living in a ' volksbuurt' (working class neighborhood). Nice to combine it with a visit to ' de zeven steegjes'; the neighborhood where the stories are about.
6. Centraal Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 398 reviews
From the world’s largest Rietveld collection to Dick Bruna. From the Utrecht Caravaggists to Pyke Koch and Marlene Dumas. From fabulous fashion and a wondrous seventeenth century doll’s house to a famous, centuries-old ship. A visit to the Netherlands’ oldest civic museum is a unique experience and guaranteed to inspire.
Reviewed By HEBA855 - London, United Kingdom
Museum was very local, and focuses on local artists such as Rietveld. Also has a good balance of all Dutch Artists. Exhibits were very well designed and thought out. We had lunch in the Cafe before entering the museum (very good), and coffee and dessert after our museum visit.
7. Nijntje Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 395 reviews
Reviewed By Nick_Robert - Geldermalsen, The Netherlands
Really excellent place with a very nice athmos. The children loved it. I went there with my two daughters. The elder (3 years old) liked all the interactive elements, while the younger (1 year) was really happy about all the cheerful colors and figures in the museum.
8. Universiteitsmuseum Utrecht
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 122 reviews
Get to know your inner scientist at the Universiteitsmuseum Utrecht (Utrecht University Museum). At the museum you will experience the differences between science now and in bygone days. Put on a lab coat and carry out experiments or investigate the similarities between humans and animals. The Oude Hortus is the old botanical garden of Utrecht, and is a relaxing place in the middle of the city center.
Reviewed By GuptaJQ
My family's favourite place in Utrecht. Adults enjoyed the garden. The interactive science museum was good, if your family like that type of thing. Had walk through science rooms with lots of experiments to try. The day we were there there was a kids interactive space with really helpful friendly assistants who sold science.
9. Museumhuis Van Ravesteyn
The architect Van Ravesteyn designed this villa in 1932, where he lived with his family and worked on many assignments. His love for ornaments and curved lines was not always appreciated by his modernist collegues. A lot of his designs did not survive but this beautiful one does!
10. Impakt Centre For Media Culture
IMPAKT presents critical and creative views on contemporary media culture and arts, in an interdisciplinary context. We organize activities such as residency programmes, events and online art projects. Our main project is the annual IMPAKT Festival: a five-day multimedia event that includes exhibitions, film screenings, lectures, panels, performances and more.
