A Sunny Weekend in the Netherlands
On this long weekend for us, we’re visiting our neighbors: the Dutch. And as luck would have it, we arrive during the warmest and sunniest weekend of the year so far. We arrive at the Center Parcs “De Eemhof” with wonderful temperatures of 17°C and are even allowed to enter our VIP accommodation before the official check-in time of 4 p.m.
What exactly does that mean? In addition to a fireplace, our well-equipped apartment has a jacuzzi, an infrared sauna, and a double shower. I call that a great start to the weekend. And that’s not all. With (cycling) trips to Nijkerk, Utrecht, Amersfoort, and the Horsterwold, these four days turn into a real highlight.
Cycling trip to Nijkerk
After unloading our car, we immediately hop onto our bikes. At the center information desk, they recommended the route along the Eem to Nijkerk. The cycling path on the dike (Laakse Hoek), which also passes through the forest, is truly beautiful. After crossing a bridge to the other side of the Eem, we arrive in the picturesque old town of Nijkerk just ten minutes later.
Passing the city’s landmark, the Grote Kerk, we settle down at Alberto’s Italian in downtown Nijkerk. We manage to grab one of the very inviting and comfortable sofas in the sun. Here we make ourselves comfortable and fully enjoy the atmosphere around us. Unfortunately, at this time of year it gets dark quite early, so after two hours we (have to) head back toward De Eemhof.
Visiting Utrecht
The next day we take advantage of the “early swimmer” offer at the Aqua Mundo on the Center Parcs grounds. Unfortunately, Saharan dust has reached Zeewolde, so the sun has a hard time breaking through the persistent haze today.
Instead of feeling gloomy about the weather, we make the best of it and head to Utrecht. Utrecht is the fourth-largest city in the Netherlands and is sometimes called the “more beautiful” Amsterdam. The city stands out for its lovely canals and architecture. The Dom Tower, at almost 100 meters tall, especially stands out in the skyline.
The center of Utrecht is absolutely packed on this Saturday. That may also be due to the large number of students living in the city—over 70,000 of them, making up more than a quarter of the population.
Walking the Singel route
First we head to the tourist information office to pick up a city map. Here we also get information about the “Singel circular route.” The Utrecht Singel canal surrounds the old town as a historic ring of water.
Because of the rather cold wind that day, we only walk half of the route and then look for the warmth of a café. To my surprise, I discover there that the Dutch don’t know Apfelsaftschorle (apple juice mixed with sparkling water). I wouldn’t have thought that such a juice-water mix could be something so special.
Once warmed up again, we want to explore the most important canals in the city: Twijnstraat, Vrouwjuttenstraat, and Hamburgerstraat—not forgetting, of course, the Oudegracht, which connects everything. At some point, after passing many (cheese) shops, we end up at Winkel van Sinkel. The building stands out due to its striking architecture with statues. Originally built as a department store in the 19th century, it is now a café and restaurant.
After thoroughly enjoying the city’s atmosphere, we make our way back. The infrared sauna awaits us there and pleasantly warms our bones again after the rather chilly day.
Our 70 km round tour
The next day the sun is shining brightly again. We want to get back on our bikes and cycle to Amersfoort. Altogether we’ve planned a round trip that leads from Center Parcs to Amersfoort, then on via Kamp Amersfoort to Spakenburg. From there we plan to take the ferry back to De Eemhof.
The route, which once again largely runs along the dike, is very well developed—as are cycling paths throughout the Netherlands in general. It really is a paradise for cycling enthusiasts.
Upon arriving in Amersfoort, we first admire the beautiful Koppelpoort at the entrance to the city center. This unique land-and-water gate dates back to the 18th century and is part of the city’s second defensive wall.
Amersfoort is overall a very charming place. One unique attraction is the historic street Muurhuizen (“wall houses”), which was built on the former city wall. Other sights include the Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren and the Mondrian House.
We continue cycling toward Kamp Amersfoort, a memorial site just outside the city. From there we ride on toward Spakenburg. It’s already around 5 p.m. when we arrive there. In fact, we had expected a bit more “life” in the town. But everything is closed—and to our surprise, the ferry isn’t running that day.
Well, that means we also have to cycle the final 16 km back to De Eemhof. That brings us to a total of 70 km of cycling that day. But it was worth it—the tour is really beautiful.
Horsterwold, a park in Zeewolde
Even on the day of our departure the weather is kind to us. Before sitting in the car again for several hours, we want to take one more bike ride. This time we choose the Horsterwold.
Anyone who, like us, loves nature and silence will feel right at home here. Once again, a cycling path runs through the area. The Tuurtoren observation tower is also worth a stop.
On the way back we want to grab something to eat, which isn’t so easy on this Monday. However, we had already found out online that the brasserie ’t Wolderwijd would be open for us that day. As it turns out, that was a very good choice. We can highly recommend the salad with shrimp, for example 🙂
In the early afternoon it’s time to say: Hartelijk dank en tot ziens, Netherlands!
