It is currently Monday night at 10 PM and I am looking outside of the hostel lobby window (it’s still light out of course). Reflecting on the past five days we’ve spent in Utrecht makes me sad to leave tomorrow. We are heading to Amsterdam, our last destination of the trip. Utrecht is my favorite city we’ve been to by far. There are so many things to love about it. Upon arrival, I immediately loved the city’s liveliness and the semi-local vibe. Everyone here I’ve spoken to seems shocked when I tell them that I am from the US. Utrecht feels like Copenhagen and Amsterdam (from what I remember from the last time I visited), but with fewer tourists. In some ways, Utrecht even reminds me of only the best parts of Portland. Certain areas had live music and even a huge farmer’s market set up in the middle of one of the streets. Today was the most relaxed day I’ve seen since arriving here last Thursday. People filled the streets the entire weekend and late into each night. When walking around at night, you can hear music and laughter coming from all different directions. Today I learned that people view Mondays as the week’s rest and relaxation day- like how we view Sundays. I’ve also noticed that people like to take their time here. At restaurants and cafes, no one seems like they’re in a rush or stressed about what’s happening next. Being surrounded by a slower-paced environment is great, even if only for a few days.
On the first day here we visited the world’s largest indoor bike parking unit: Ector Hoogstad Architecten. It’s located under the city’s train station we arrived at on our first day. Witnessing this was insane. It has three stories with over 6000 parking spots. A bike track is on the perimeter of the inside of the building so cyclists can easily enter and exit.
Over the weekend, we went on a cycling tour of the suburbs and countryside, tried restaurants, and explored the city by bike and foot. Walking around can be extremely confusing. I walk one way, and see a familiar landmark, but then one minute later I’m in a completely different part of the city. The street layout and connectivity will have to remain a mystery to me. I’ve also noticed that people make intense eye contact here, especially between bikers and drivers. This felt sort of weird at first, but I then realized that this adds to the safety of biking here. Drivers know how to watch for bikers because they frequently bike themselves. Bikers can also go anywhere they please, unlike in Denmark. Every street here is a bike street, whereas in Denmark there are specific places bikers can and can’t go. I’ve heard the biking is even more extreme in Amsterdam so I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us. More blogs to come soon!
Photos of the biggest indoor bike parking facility:
(Photos by Frantiska Blaskova in “World’s Biggest Cycling Garage Opens, Obviously, In the Netherlands,” WeLoveCycling).