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The Times {Weekend}
Keyword:
Utrecht
UK Saturday 15, March 2014 46,47 565 sq. cm ABC 382198 Daily page rate £16,645.00, scc rate £75.00 020 7782 5000
Be blown away by the views from the tower Mark Barber finds Utrecht simply breathtaking — especially after climbing 465 steps
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uggest a relaxing trip to Utrecht by ferry and you may well receive a bemused look — not least because the city is situated 55 miles inland from the Hook of Holland. With a Stena Line dutchflyer ticket, however, distance from the sea is no object. The dutchflyer gives ferry passengers the freedom to travel from Harwich to any town or city on the Netherlands’ national rail network and return to any station served by Greater Anglia trains, including Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester and London Liverpool Street. Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands but with a population of about 320,000, it is more of a university town than bustling centre. Within minutes of leaving Central Station, visitors find themselves strolling through the cobbled streets and canal paths of the old city. Look up from almost anywhere and you see the Dom Tower, at 112 metres it is the tallest building in the city. Completed in 1381 as the belltower of St Martin’s Cathedral, the two were separated by a hurricane which swept away the central nave in 1674. The tower is open to the public and provides unrivalled views across the city.
And with 465 steps up to the open-air viewing platform at the top, it is a surefire way to exhaust the kids or work off the hot chocolate and waffles available in cafes and bars across the city. Ringed and criss-crossed by canals, taking a boat trip from the corner of Oudegracht and Lange Viestraat, is a great way to become acquainted with old Utrecht. The boat meanders along the old canal, completed in 1122, returning via the quaintly named new canal, opened as recently as 1381, and provides an ideal position from which to see the medieval buildings lining the waterside, as well as the 13th-century, Unesco-listed wharf cellars, many transformed into restaurants, cafes and bars that give the city its unique charm. Look out for some of the 500 sculptures built into the walls and bridges of the canals that tell the story of the city. With only limited and very expensive parking available, the old city is virtually car-free, making it a pleasure to wander around with only the occasional rattles or bells of bicycles as a soundtrack. Take time to explore the less well travelled lanes, and push open some of the green gates along the way, as many allow public access to secret gardens and tranquil squares .
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The Times {Weekend}
Keyword:
Utrecht
UK Saturday 15, March 2014 46,47 565 sq. cm ABC 382198 Daily page rate £16,645.00, scc rate £75.00 020 7782 5000
Arguably Utrecht’s greatest export, the Miffy children’s books are the brainchild of local illustrator Dick Bruna and a building adjacent to the Centraal Museum is given over to his life and works. Entry to Dick Bruna Huis is included with the museum ticket. An after-dark highlight is the Trajectum Lumen, a self-guided walk through historic Utrecht using light installations to bring together past and present. Round off the evening in the 13th century Oudaen City Castle with a glass or two of on-site brewed beer or a meal in the upstairs restaurant that provides stunning views across the city.
The old canal was built in 1122. The new canal was opened as recently as 1381
Reproduced by Gorkana under licence from the NLA (newspapers), CLA (magazines), FT (Financial Times/ft.com) or other copyright owner. No further copying (including printing of digital cuttings), digital reproduction/forwarding of the cutting is permitted except under licence from the copyright owner. All FT content is copyright The Financial Times Ltd.
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277453812 - MICREE - A21799-1 - 83448987
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The Times {Weekend}
Keyword:
Utrecht
UK Saturday 15, March 2014 46,47 565 sq. cm ABC 382198 Daily page rate £16,645.00, scc rate £75.00 020 7782 5000
TIM VAN VEEN / TOURISM UTRECHT
St Martin’s Cathedral basks in the glow of a light installation, pictured from the top of the Dom Tower
Reproduced by Gorkana under licence from the NLA (newspapers), CLA (magazines), FT (Financial Times/ft.com) or other copyright owner. No further copying (including printing of digital cuttings), digital reproduction/forwarding of the cutting is permitted except under licence from the copyright owner. All FT content is copyright The Financial Times Ltd.
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