Amersfoort
Amersfoort is a city and municipality in the Utrecht province of the Netherlands.
As of 31 January 2023, the municipality had a population of 160,902, making it the second-largest of the province and fifteenth-largest of the country. Amersfoort is also one of the largest Dutch railway junctions with its three stations—Amersfoort Centraal, Schothorst and Vathorst—due to its location on two of the Netherlands' main east to west and north to south railway lines. The city was used during the 1928 Summer Olympics as a venue for the modern pentathlon events. Amersfoort marked its 750th anniversary as a city in 2009.
Getting to Amersfoort
You can cycle from Amsterdam to Amersfoort in about 4 hours. Utrecht to Amersfoort takes about 90 minutes. The long-distance cycle route LF9, from Breda in the south, to the German border at Nieuweschans, at passes through Amersfoort. (There is also a route variant which passes outside the city). Amersfoort station is a rail junction. One line comes from Amsterdam via Hilversum, another from Utrecht.
Worth seeing
The roughly circular historic centre is the main attraction of Amersfoort. The Eem river runs diagonally through the old city, south-east to northwest, from the Monnickendam to the Koppelpoort. It is crossed at right angles by the Langestraat, part of the old highway from Utrecht to Zwolle, and still the main street.
- 01Mondriaanhuis
Situated in the house of birth of the famous artist Piet Mondriaan, this museum is completely dedicated to his work and includes a reconstruction of his 1920s Paris studio.
- 02Museum Flehite
Housed in buildings dating back to around 1540 the Museum Flehite hosts art exhibitions and artefacts that reflect the history of Amersfoort.
- 03Kunsthal KAdE
Organises exhibitions of (modern) art, architecture, design and contemporary culture.
- 04Cavaleriemuseum
Barchman Wuytierslaan 198, info@cavaleriemuseum.nl.
- 05Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren
- 06Koppelpoort
Probably the best preserved city gate in the Netherlands.
Things to do
- 01Amersfoort Zoo
- 02Waterlijn
You can hire a boat or join one of the tours on the canals, waterways and rivers of Amersfoort.
- 03Park Randenbroek
The park has a wide diversity of trees, plants and animals, including a colony of herons.
Where to eat
Amersfoort hosts dozens of restaurants, many located in the main shopping areas. Many styles of food are represented, including stylish haute-cuisine, down-to-earth bistros, and 'foreign' cuisine such as American, Greek, Italian, Indian, Japanese, Mexican, and Thai food. Some examples include: Restaurant Voor Iedereen, Bloemendalsestraat 5,. Tasty food, great value for money.
- 01Dara
Nice Moroccan restaurant with outdoor seating.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.