UTRECHT NETHERLANDS

:: March 18 - March 22 ::

Established as a Roman Fortress in 47AD. ... Named by some in 2021 as the “world's best cycling city.”

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We joined two others and our guide on upright 3 speed local bikes for a history tour of the town center—defined by “where the wall used to be” and the moat-canal still flows.

' walked through largest bike parking structure in the world under Central Station--12,500 bicycles!

 

'experienced the vibrant life and commerce resulting from community investment bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

'learned that an average of 33,000 cyclists pass daily thru the intersection in front of our hotel.

 'walked and biked along canals.

 

 

Among a steady stream of cyclists, 'biked about 9 kilometers out into the countryside, 'returned through one of the university's campuses.

 

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Central Museum: Art, a Viking river boat, and the recreation of the workshop of Utrecht author Dick Bruna who created the Miffy (and other) books.

 

 

Neude Library: Once a nunnery, once Post Office and telephone building, converted in the 20th century and renovated in the 21st as a Library (in “Amsterdam” modern style).

Dom Tower: The Netherland's tallest church tower has 28 bells and is the historic symbol of Utrecht, from the 1300s. In 1674, a tornado separated from the remnant Cathedral by collapsing much of the nave. It became a somber protestant church. We only saw the current renovation's scaffolding. 

 

 

 

Holocaust Memorial at the Railroad Museum. The city was the country's Nazi headquarters before and during WWII.

 

Bulbs blooming, trees leafing out. 

Everybody was out enjoying the spring sunshine that we brought with us—reminded everywhere, however, by signs with blue-yellow symbols and words of support for the people of Ukraine.