Just a 30-minute train ride from Amsterdam lies the hidden gem of Utrecht. While it’s smaller and quieter than the Dutch capital it has plenty to offer. Here are a few of the cool things you can see in and do Utrecht.
Rietveld Schröder House
Designed by the famed architect Gerrit Rietveld and a socialite called Truus Schröder-Schräde in the 1920s, this house contains many ingenious design ideas. One of the main features is the adjustable walls that create additional space when moved. After Schröder-Schräder’s death in 1985, the house became a UNESCO Heritage Site.
De Haar Castle
This incredible neo-gothic castle is one of the most luxurious ones in Europe. The gardens and the park were designed by the architect Pierre Cuypers and they are as spectacular as the building itself.
Museum Speelklok
This fascinating museum in central Utrecht collects and preserves a large collection of self-playing instruments. Despite being centuries old, many of these artifacts continue to chime and ding away.
Sonnenborgh Observatory
Sonnenborgh Observatory allows visitors to explore the night sky with their high-powered telescopes. The facility, which was founded back in the 19th century by the University of Utrecht, also holds several specialized exhibitions.
Centraal Museum
Utrecht’s Centraal Museum is renowned for its rich Northern Renaissance collection, but it also holds many other groundbreaking artworks from the last 10 centuries.
