The lovely Nijmegen, in the eastern part of the country, is the oldest city in the Netherlands. It lies in the Gelderland province on a range of hills near the River Waal. It has appr. 168 000 residents in the actual city, and about 285,000 in the whole metropolitan area. It has a university and the city is vivid because of the heavy influence of students.
Nijmegen was first mentioned in the 1st century, when the Roman Empire built a military camp on the site of the current city. In 104 CE, the Roman Emperor Trajan renamed the town, which now became known as Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum, Noviomagus for short (the origin of the current name Nijmegen).
This idyllic park is an outstanding place for calm strolling and picnics. The main sight here is the Kruittoren (Powder Tower), a 30-meter long tower, built in 1426; what remains of the wall that surrounded the city in the 15th century.
This market is a popular gathering place with its cafés and old architecture. One of the notable sites is a 16th-century weighing hall (waag) on the north side, which now serves as a restaurant.
The museum stands on the edge of the Valkhof park, site of a Roman army camp and a citadel built by Charlemagne, at the address Kelfkensbos 59. It depicts Roman artifacts found archaeological excavations, as well as 17th-century paintings, silverware, and modern art.
This building, found at the address Franseplaats 1, used to be a monastery for the Order of the Knights of Saint John, but today it houses a brewery and a cozy restaurant.
There are a lot of relatively cheap restaurants (“eetcafés”) to be found in Nijmegen, especially on the Van Welderenstraat and on Kelfkensbos. The city hosts a carneval six weeks before Easter, where people dress up in funny costumes and drink. There are parades in every town & village in Gelderland during the season. The downtown area is the center of the nightlife with its many pubs and cafés. The annual rock festival Forta Rock gathers thousands of music fans every year.
Trendy shops are concentrated on the two storey Marikenstraat. Each Monday, there is a weekly market in the centre of Nijmegen, mainly located on the Grote Markt. The nuomerous stalls sell a wide range of products.
Photos: With the CC licence / Finalart2005, Peertje55, G.Lanting, Carole Raddato, Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed
| Nijmegen, Alankomaat |  | 17°C clear sky |
Wind
3 m/s, N
Humidity
74%
Pressure
768.82 mmHg | ||
Situated on the Veluwe hill ridge, near the cities of Ede, Wageningen, Arnhem and Apeldoorn, this national park is an example of the less-known, but beautiful forests of the Netherlands. It covers a 55 km2 area consisting of deciduous woodlands, sand dunes and heaths.
The liberal and exuberant Amsterdam – commonly known just as ”Dam” – is the capital of the Netherlands and is located in the western side of the country. The river Amstel ends in the city centre and connects to a large number of canals. The city has appr. 830,000 residents, and about 1,5 million in the whole metropolitan area.
Amsterdam was granted city rights in either 1300 or 1306. From the 14th century on, Amsterdam flourished, largely because of trade with the Hanseatic League. The 17th century is considered as Amsterdam’s Golden Age, during which it became the wealthiest city in the world.
Significant areas
– Old Centre. The most popular area among tourists and known for its pubs, canals, coffeeshops and old architecture.
– Jordaan. The Museum Quarter and the Vondelpark are here.
– South. Prices are cheaper here than in the city center. Here is e.g. the Albert Cuyp Market.
This inner court is one of the oldest in Amsterdam, originally constructed in 1307. The buildings in the court are tall, characteristically Amsterdam-style town-houses. It was originally a béguinage, a community of the religious women who sought to serve God without retiring from the world. There are 47 regular town houses, in the area most of them have facades from the 17th and 18th century. The catholic ministry is still organizing masses and other ceremonies at the chapel in the area.
This historic 17th-century canal house and biographical museum, at the address Prinsengracht 263-265, is dedicated to the memory of Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who hid from Nazi occupation with her family and four other people in the hidden rooms of this house. Here she wrote her famous diary, chronicling her life from 12 June 1942 until 1 August 1944, before her death in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945. The museum holds the preserved hiding place, a permanent exhibition on the life of Anne Frank, and an exhibition space dedicated to all forms of persecution and discrimination. A site full of moving and tragic history.
This museum at Museumplein 10 is concentrated on modern and , contemporary art and design. The collection comprises art and design from the early 20th century up to the 21st century, and it features artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Vasily Kandinsky, Marc Chagall and Jackson Pollock.
Pro tip for museum goers : The Museum Card covers the cost of admission to over 400 museums across the Netherlands and one can buy it at most major museums. See more about the museum area Museumplein here.
This avenue running between Amsterdam Centraal in the north and Dam Square in the south. Its known for its picturesque canal houses and its plentiful pedestrian traffic, thanks to it being a popular thoroughfare. There are many cafés and restaurants along this avenue, and tram lines 4, 9, 16, 24, and 25 are operating in the area . The heartbeat of Amsterdam pulses loud here.
This 47 hectare public park lies west of Leidseplein and Museumplein. It has an open-air theatre and four bar facilities. The theatre, Vondelpark Openluchttheater, has shows from June until August. Performances include classical music, pop music, world music, dance, musical theatre, and cabaret. Although all performances have free entrance, visitors are asked for a donation of one euro.
Photos: With the CC licence / Steve Collis, Mark Ahsmann, Nikanos, Miguel Hermoso Cuesta, Denis Apel, Eisenacher~commonswiki, Lokilech
| Amsterdam, Alankomaat | | 16°C clear sky |
Wind
1 m/s, N
Humidity
69%
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769.57 mmHg | ||
