There are so many things to do and attractions in Utrecht Holland! This post will introduce you to some of the things you can do right here in Utrecht!
Dick Bruna Huis aka Dick Bruna House – Home of Miffy the Rabbit
Play area for kids in dick bruna huis
How can a visit to Utrecht be complete without visiting the world-famed Dick Bruna Huis? Dick Bruna House is home to Miffy the rabbit and is a popular character all across the world, particularly in Japan. Dick Bruna, Miffy’s creator uses bold strokes and colours to bring out vivid actions and contrasts in Miffy story books. Definitely a place not to be missed if you are in Holland!
Domtoren & Domkerk
Domtoren UtrechtDomkerk aka St. Martin’s Cathedral Utrecht
The most famous landmarks in Utrecht, Domtoren and Domkerk are picturesque structures not to be missed. Construction of the Domkerk (aka St. Martin’s Cathedral) started in the 13th century and still stands today after some restoration works.
Centraal Museum Utrecht
Utrecht Centraal Museum Rietveld room
Entry to Centraal Museum Utrecht is inclusive when you purchase tickets to Dick Bruna Huis. Riet Veld’s unique design of chairs also gave inspriation to Dick Bruna’s work. There are also a good collection of art works as well as history of how these art works came about. A good place to visit and learn about the culture of Utrecht.
Shopping!
Hoog Catharijne next to Utrecht Central Station
Shopping’s everywhere in the Netherlands! And Utrecht is not an exception. Besides visiting the street markets, shopping malls such as Hoog Catharijne (beside the Utrecht Central Station) also provides excellent shopping options! Ask Kate – she knows!
After taking an hour ride from Amsterdam to Utrecht, we arrived at the Utrecht Central Station. Here, we went straight for our familiar breakfast and coffee at Albert Heijn!
$1euro coffee from Albert Heijn’s coffee machine
Hoog Catharijne is a huge and mazy shopping mall that is just next to the Utrecht Central Station. Here we had our breakfast as we watched the morning crowd rush by. We then headed outdoors towards our first destination Domkerk.
Town Square Utrecht
Hoog Catharijne next to Utrecht Central Station
As we headed outdoors, we noticed that the traffic light was somewhat different. Can you notice it in this video?
Yes! The red and green man of the traffic light are actually Miffy! So cute! You would have known by now that Utrecht is the home town of Dick Bruna who created Miffy – affectionately known to the locals as Nijntje.
Not long after, the skies started to turn grey. But in the midst of the storm, we can still see the rainbow!
Rainbow in Utrecht
While we were trying to find the Domkerk, we came upon this structure…
Water Museum in Utrecht
The structure actually looked like a watch tower of sorts to us. However, it turned out that the tower is actually a water museum. However, it has since ceased operation. After taking some shots, we left in search of Domkerk. Along the way, we were suddenly hit by this…
A hail storm out of nowhere! We were carrying our umbrella in the light drizzle when it hit us, making loud thumping noise as it hit our umbrella. So we went to the side to seek shelter and took a video of the hail. Have you been hit by a hail before? A light one such as this was ok, but a huge one may be very dangerous!
Domkerk and Domtoren Utrecht
Not long after that ordeal, we came upon the Domkerk!
Domtoren UtrechtDomkerk aka St. Martin’s Cathedral Utrecht
Domkerk and Domtoren in Utrecht are famous landmarks in Utrecht. Domkerk is also known as St. Martin’s Cathedral and was built in the 13th century.
After walking for another 20 minutes, we finally came upon Dick Bruna Huis! Well, the reason why we came to Utrecht in the first place was because of Miffy! There was a newspaper report that covered all the famous rabbits as it was the year of the rabbits in the chinese calendar. One of these famous rabbits was of course Miffy. We sort of stared at the newspaper cutting each morning during breakfast and we took it upon ourselves to visit. And here we are!
Entrance to Dick Bruna House to see Miffy
Centraal Museum Utrecht
The price of entry ticket to Dick Bruna House was inclusive of entry to the Centraal Museum in Utrecht as well. Here we chanced upon famous designs such as this rag chair
Rag chair Centraal Museum Utrecht
as well as designs from Riet Veld who inspired Dick Bruna in his work.
Utrecht Centraal Museum Rietveld room
The museum was actually quite interesting with its different sections at different levels and it holds quite an extensive collection of artworks as well, given that it looks relatively small from the outside. Next we headed to Dick Bruna Huis!
Dick Bruna Huis Utrecht
Play area for kids in dick bruna huis
At the entrance of Dick Bruna Huis is the souvenir shop that has all kinds of Miffy stuff ranging from baby toys to soft toys, bibs to cutlery. Of course we did quite a bit of shopping ourselves there as well!
Get some Miffy souvenirs on the way out of Dick Bruna Huis Utrecht
Before entering Dick Bruna House, you’ll walk past this huge golden Miffy greeting you at the entrance!
Fat Golden Miffy at the entrance of Dick Bruna House
Once you’re in, you’ll be first greeted with the room with all the Miffy books written in many different languages!
Walls filled with Miffy Square Books in different languages Dick Bruna House
Miffy in Fashion or Nijntje De Mode is a tribute by designers to Dick Bruna. These designers were inspired by the works of Dick Bruna and decided to come together to put up this display in recognition of his works…
Winner of Miffy in Fashion commemorating 5th year of Dick Bruna Huis
On the way back, we stopped by this asian chow place at the Utrecht Central Station and had some of its noodles @ 9.80euro. Very expensive for Singapore standards!
Asian restaurant @ Utrecht Central Station9.80euro noodles with beef and brocoli in oriental sauce7euro doner kebab x 2 with fries and coke
Conclusion
Utrecht was definitely worth a day visit. If the weather had been better, we would have enjoyed a beautiful stroll along the canals as well. Do not miss the Dick Bruna Huis for you Miffy out there!
There are many things to do and attractions in Utrecht! On top of the attractions list has got to be the St. Martin’s Cathedral also known as the Domkerk as well as the Dom Tower also known as Domtoren.
Domtoren aka Dom Tower
Domtoren Utrecht
Known to the locals as Domtoren, the Dom Tower stands at a height of 112.5 metres and is the tallest church tower in all of the Netherlands.
The Dom Tower commenced work in 1321 to show the power of the Utrecht church to all of Europe. Besides being a bell tower, Dom Tower also functioned as a private chapel and the watch tower because of its height.
Today, it remains as a symbol of the city of Utrecht.
Side view of Domtoren aka Dom Tower Utrecht
St. Martin’s Cathedral aka Domkerk
Domkerk aka St. Martin’s Cathedral Utrecht
Situated next to the Dom Tower is the gothic-styled St. Martin’s Cathedral. It is today a protestant church and was also built during the middle ages. Unlike most churches during that era which had 2 towers (see these towers in Old Town Square Prague), there is only 1 tower – the Dom Tower which remains a significant part of Utrecht today.
The hurricane / storm of 1674 destroyed a huge portion of the church as show in this illustration below.
Hurricane that destroyed Domkerk in 1674Frontview of St. Martin’s Cathedral aka Domkerk
