Avontuur op Reis | Posted on September 18, 2022 | Aniek went on a micro adventure. And this time one very close to home: the Weekend Tour Utrecht World Heritage. A bike ride of 125 kilometres, which she spread over 2 days with an overnight stay in Strowis Hostel in Utrecht. This hostel is practically on the route and here you can perfectly park your bike while exploring Utrecht.
From the moment I hop on my bike, I’m immersed in the history of Utrecht. Beneath the Dom Square, I uncover the remains of a Roman castellum. I then cycle past some of Utrecht’s most beautiful forts and defense works, following the Old and New Dutch Waterline. After that, I retreat into nature and explore the polder landscapes of Alblasserwaard and Lopikerwaard. A wonderful and varied bikepacking trip that helped me rediscover my own province.
Discoveries beneath the Dom Square
But before I start my bikepacking journey, I take some time to explore Utrecht itself. The Dom Tower is currently under scaffolding for a few more years due to restoration, but there’s also plenty to see below ground level. The Roman Limes (the former borders of the Roman Empire) once ran straight through what is now the center of Utrecht. Beneath the Dom, in the cellars of DOMunder, you can still see remains of the Roman castellum built around the year 200 near a ford in the Rhine.
I join a guided tour at DOMunder, and with a small group, we set off on an underground adventure. Between medieval cellar walls, I spot the first traces of the Roman military camp that once stood here. You can clearly see where the castellum walls used to be—part of the northern border of the Roman Empire. In a display case, Roman artifacts from a water well found during excavations on the Dom Square are showcased. And as we descend deeper beneath the square, I start to feel like an archaeologist myself. With my ‘smart flashlight,’ I scan various points to trigger audio stories in my earbuds—about the construction of the Dom Church, the great storm of 1674 that destroyed much of it, and the Roman castellum.
Tip: Want to take a DOMunder tour yourself? It’s best to stay overnight in Utrecht—for example, at Strowis Hostel (see more via Bikepacking Holland). The hostel is conveniently located near the route and offers a great spot to store your bike while you explore the city.
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