Mini city guide: a day trip in Amersfoort

Looking for something different than Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Utrecht? Amersfoort is a perfect city for a day trip. Visit this central city in the Netherlands and discover the beautiful architecture, canals, coffee bars and nice shops run by local entrepreneurs. A mini city guide to spending a day in Amersfoort.

The ‘not so secret Koppelpoort gate’ and ‘Tower of our lady’

Koppelpoort gate is a city gate in Amersfoort. The gate was built between 1380 and 1425 as part of the second city wall. It is one of the most famous attractions in the city, but worth a visit. Another famous attraction is the Tower of our lady, also knows as Onze Lieve Vrouwentoren in Dutch. With its 98.33 meters high, this is the second highest church tower in the Netherlands. Every day at 2 pm you can climb the tower which will give you a perfect view of the city. The tower originally belongs to a church that had disappeared in the 18th century.

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Wander past the canals, narrow streets and historic buildings

Amersfoort is a city with beautiful architecture. When you walk through the center you will find several narrow streets, old buildings and bridges throughout the city to cross the canals. You can also choose to book a tour on a tour boat. Walk around the ‘Muurhuizen’ (wall houses) where you will find the most adorable houses. Or pay a visit to Hof, the largest square in Amersfoort. There is a market every Friday and Saturday.

Nice to know: keep an eye on all the poems throughout the city. You can find them on several walls and spots. If you’re a book lover, bring a visit to the public bookcase near to the Mooierstraat.

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Perfect hotspots to grab a coffee with something sweet or a delicious lunch

De Krommestraat is worth a visit anyway, but do not forget to stop at Bakery Corazon. You will walk past it, but at this bakery you can get delicious coffee, authentic cakes and homemade bread. I can really recommend the grilled sandwiches.

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Buuf in de Serre can be found at the Marienhof, one of the most beautiful places in the city. Previously this was a monastery, but now this is a cozy hotspot to grab a coffee and cake.

Another nice hotspot is Nul33, located in the Langestraat. Maybe weird to say, but make a stop at the sanitary which is located in the cellar of a historic building. Looking for a beer? Blur has the smallest beer store in the world. Besides the beer store, you can drink a coffee or buy a sustainable gift. To busy walking to sit down? Grab some fries on the go at Van Gogh Frites. Tip: try the homemade ‘Amersfoortse kroketten‘.

Shop at the stores of local entrepreneurs

What I personally like about Amersfoort is that there are many stores of local entrepreneurs. It makes shopping more fun when there is a mix of big chains and local stores. Nice streets to stroll through are the Utrechtsestraat, the Krommestraat, the Mooierstraat and the Varkensmarkt. A street that is often forgotten is Kamp. Here you can buy regional products and food in the greengrocer’s shop, the African shop and the Toko.

At Roots they mainly sell clothing of Swedish and Dutch brands. And the best thing, they give young designers a chance to sell their collection. Looking for retro items, a vintage dress or furniture? Bring a visit to Sober & Stoer wonen.

After a visit at Tara Boeddha you’ll become completely zen. In this store they sell gems, incense, books and music. Looking for cosmetics and skincare? Then Erika is the place to go. At this health store they sell all kind of products, like skincare, food, vitamines and herbs.

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How to travel to Amersfoort

Amersfoort is easily accessible by train. From the central station, you walk to the city center within a few minutes. You can also go by car and park your car in front of Suski Koi or at Flint. A day ticket is around €11,50. Amersfoort is about 30-45 minutes away from Rotterdam, Utrecht and Amsterdam so you can combine two cities as well. Enjoy!