Amersfoort

Amersfoort is a medieval city to the east of Amsterdam and Utrecht. It is at the edge of their commuting area. The city centre (the medieval city) is full of historic buildings and streets, and there is accessible forest into the west and south. The city of Amersfoort (municipality) has about 148,000 inhabitants, the urban region about 285,000.

Amersfoort is located in the province of Utrecht in the Netherlands, bordering on the province of Gelderland.

Geography and history
Amersfoort takes its name from a ford (voorde) in the Eem river, which was once called the 'Emer' or 'Amer', at the edge of higher ground, the Utrecht ridge. The ford is on the shortest route across low marshy ground, from the ridge to the nearest higher ground on the east. As a result, Amersfoort was, and still is, on the main road from the western Netherlands to northern Germany, and the later Amsterdam - Berlin railway followed this route. The low-lying area between the Utrecht and Veluwe ridges is called the Valley of Gelderland, Gelderse Vallei, and it is now a zone of intensive farming.

The first written record of the settlement was in 1028. In the 12th century the Bishopric of Utrecht fortified it (because of its strategic location), and in 1259 granted it city rights. The first city wall of stone was built in the late 13th century.

Around 1380 a new wall was built: some of the city gates still survive. The city was a late medieval pilgrimage centre, and in 1444 began the construction of a cathedral. Most of it was destroyed in an explosion in 1787, but the tower survives, one of the highest church towers in the Netherlands. The 98 meter late-medieval eye-catcher is called Onze Lieve Vrouwentoren. Because of its visibility, it was the starting point for the accurate triangulation of the country, and it is still the true origin of the Dutch national grid (coordinates 463.000, 155.000).

Amersfoort's medieval industries were cloth and beer: in the 18th century it prospered due to the locally-grown tobacco. The railway began the modern expansion. Growth has accelerated, with suburban expansion mainly to the north. During its medieval heyday Amersfoort was a popular place of pilgrimage and an important city in the brewing industry. The oldest of Amersfoort's bars, In Den Grooten Slock, still stands today. The historic brewery, De Drie Ringen, brews excellent beers and is open to the public (from F-Su 13:00-17:00).

The central location allowed Amersfoort to become a major railway hub in the late 19th century. This also increased its strategic importance and up until 1980 it was one of the biggest garrison towns of the Netherlands. The military presence is still visible in the army bases (the Bernhardkazerne is still active and housing the Cavalry museum), nearby training grounds, and former airforce base Soesterberg.

By bicycle
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).

By train
Amersfoort station is a rail junction. One line comes from Amsterdam via Hilversum, another from Utrecht. Beyond Amersfoort, they split. The main line to the east goes to Apeldoorn, Deventer, and on to Enschede. The line north-east to Zwolle is the main line to the north of the country, to Leeuwarden and Groningen. Trains arrive and depart at similar times on both sides of the platform, so you need to be careful which train you board. There are two suburban stations, Schothorst and Vathorst. The main station is served: The Berlin - Amsterdam international trains also stop at Amersfoort, 6 trains per day, and one more from Hannover (with a connection from Berlin).
 * from Amsterdam Centraal: 2 Intercity trains per hour, in 33 minutes, and 2 slower trains
 * from Amsterdam Zuid: 2 Intercity trains per hour, in 35 minutes, and 2 slower trains
 * from Utrecht: 4 Intercity trains per hour, in 14 minutes, and 2 slower trains
 * from Deventer: 2 or 3 Intercity trains per hour, in 36 minutes
 * from Zwolle: 2 Intercity trains per hour, in 35 minutes, and 2 slower trains
 * from Ede-Wageningen station, connecting with trains from Arnhem, every 30 minutes, journey takes 33 minutes.
 * NS train route planner

By bus
Amersfoort is served by regional bus lines, some with limited services. The main bus lines run every 30 minutes: line 80 from Wageningen, and three with parallel rail routes: the 70 from Hilversum, the 101 from Harderwijk and the 102 from Apeldoorn.
 * Public transport route planner

By car
Amersfoort is next to a major intersection between the A1 motorway from Amsterdam to Hengelo and onwards to Germany, and the A28 motorway from Utrecht to Groningen. Nearby at Barneveld, the A30 provides a fast connection towards Arnhem.

Public transport
Amersfoort does have a city bus network with 10 lines, operated by Syntus Utrecht. Services are not as frequent as you would expect, in a city this size. The city centre is small enough to walk everywhere, the station is 10 minutes walk from the centre. Outside the centre, the best way to get around is to cycle. Car access to the city centre is restricted.

Carparking
Amersfoort city centre is easily accessible and offers multiple parking facilities, including eight parking garages in and around the city centre. The Parking Route Information System (PRIS) can guide you to any of our parking garages.
 * Parking Services in Amersfoort city center

Rent a bike or scooter
At the Central Train Station and various other locations in and around the city centre you can rent (electric) bicycles which you may then park for free at one of the many cycle racks in the city centre. In combination with the Eemlijn Fietsboot this can be a perfect day out. Alternatively, you can rent a scooter from the Tourist Bureau Amersfoort, where they also have information on scooter routes.
 * Tourist Bureau Amersfoort

See
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. The station is on the west side, and the Town Hall is at the western edge of the old city, on the road to the station. Most of the office buildings in the centre are located on or near this road. Apart from the Langestraat, most of the shopping streets are on the west side of the centre also. Specific sights include:

Popular attractions

 * Sailing on a launch. Take an idyllic trip through the river Eem or to the lake Eemmeer or charter a launch and explore the waterways. You will find the launch at the jetty on the Grote Koppel in front of number 5. See www.aanhetroer.nl.
 * Sailing on a launch. Take an idyllic trip through the river Eem or to the lake Eemmeer or charter a launch and explore the waterways. You will find the launch at the jetty on the Grote Koppel in front of number 5. See www.aanhetroer.nl.
 * Sailing on a launch. Take an idyllic trip through the river Eem or to the lake Eemmeer or charter a launch and explore the waterways. You will find the launch at the jetty on the Grote Koppel in front of number 5. See www.aanhetroer.nl.
 * Sailing on a launch. Take an idyllic trip through the river Eem or to the lake Eemmeer or charter a launch and explore the waterways. You will find the launch at the jetty on the Grote Koppel in front of number 5. See www.aanhetroer.nl.


 * Forestpool. This open-air swimming pool is open from May until September. Enjoy a swim in the forest along with the play islands, slides and diving board. Do not miss the spectacular Canopy Trail while you are there. See www.bosbadamersfoort.nl.


 * Sk8Park. The Sk8Park Vathorst in Amersfoort is the largest skate park in Europe. You can try inline skating, skate boarding and ride a BMX bike. Address: Valutaboulevard, opposite IKEA.

Nature and parks
In 2007 an international jury proclaimed Amersfoort to be one of the greenest cities of Europe. You will find many green areas in the city to enjoy.

You will also find the historic park surrounding the urban centre. Or you may like to visit one of the estates, such as Landgoed Schothorst, which is surrounded by beautiful parks landscaped in the English style.

Living history
Actors re-enact professions and people from the rich history of Amersfoort, letting you experience times gone by.


 * Burgerweeshuis: The Burgerweeshuis is a former orphanage dating from the 17th century and comes to life in July and August. Address: Zuidersingel 25 (next to the Mariënhof)
 * Mannenzaal: The Mannenzaal is a nursing home dating back to the 16th century. During the months of July and August actors take you back in time. Address: Westsingel 47 (opposite the Museum Flehite)
 * Historic Sundays: on Sundays in June, July, August and September you can encounter living history in the city centre.

Cycling around Amersfoort
There are several signposted cycle routes around Amersfoort. Shorter circular routes are signposted in one direction, taking several hours: follow the route signs (usually hexagonal). The Eemland Route starts in Amersfoort. The Nieuwe Vuursche Route passes the western edge of the city. The much longer Eneco Veluwe Route passes the eastern edge, and the nearby village of Hoevelaken. The route is 265 km long, not counting three short-cuts and two diversions. Another long route, Rondje Utrecht, a circle around the Province of Utrecht, passes the city centre.

The LF9 is a long cross-country route, signposted in both directions. It starts in Breda, near the Belgian border, and follows approximately the 0 metre contour. In principle, everything west of this line would disappear under sea water, if there were no artificial barriers. It runs through Utrecht, and after Amersfoort follows the old coastline to Zwolle, and goes through Groningen to the German border (325 km).

However, you don't need to follow a route: most of the surrounding region is suitable for cycling. The most interesting routes are east and north-east to the Veluwe forests about 20 km away, east and south to the forest at the edge of the city, north along the river Eem and toward the former coastline, and south-east along the Gelderse Vallei toward Wageningen.

Markets
On Saturdays there is an all-day market on the centre square De Hof. Every Friday the Lieve Vrouwekerkhof hosts the weekly flower market.

On that same square there is a second-hand fair on the first and third Saturday of every month from April until October. From October till April the second-hand fair is held on every first Saturday of every month on the Lieve Vrouwekerkhof. In December and January there is no second-hand fair.

Shopping
Amersfoort is a real shopping city. You will find a variety of shops, ranging from large chain stores to boutiques, trendy little shops, delicacies and art galleries. Whatever you may need, Amersfoort has it. There is the Sint Jorisplein, a modern shopping area in the centre of town or you may choose to visit the many characteristic shopping streets such as the Krommestraat or the Langestraat. Outside the city centre you have the shopping area Eemplein, the busy but nice Leusderweg or Emiclaer, the shopping area for northern Amersfoort.

Every Thursday the shops in the city centre are open in the evening, closing at 21:00. Stores are generally open on Monday afternoon from 13:00 till 17:30. The rest of the week on Tuesday till Friday from 10:00 closing on 17:30 and on Saturdays from 10:00 till 17:00.

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:

The following restaurants are recognized by the 'Lekker!' organisation as some of the finest restaurants in the Netherlands:

Drink
There are plenty of bars around in the old City centre. The most important clusters of bars can be found on the two main squares (Onze Lieve Vrouwenkerkhof and Hof). Two of the better pubs there are Lobbes and Blauwe Engel. The Boothill Saloon (in Krankeledenstraat, near Onze Lieve Vrouwenkerkhof) and the Irish Pub Long John (also Krankenledenstraat) are also great places to go out.

Prices are, as in most Dutch pubs, somewhat high. In Long John a pint of Guinness might, for instance, set you back €4.50, although the other pubs are slightly cheaper.



Sleep
Amersfoort has a fairly large number of chain hotels, popular with business travellers as well as tourists. Prices vary strongly, based on availability. Below mentioned rates are starting prices, which may be significantly higher in high season, especially for hotels in the city centre.

Go next
You can travel on from Amersfoort in several directions, see 'Get in' for main train routes. There are many other destinations in the vicinity.

The most useful routes are bus line 101 through several villages to the town of Harderwijk, line 80 to Rhenen and Wageningen and the 102 across the forested Veluwe to Apeldoorn. It connects with line 104, the only way to reach the smaller villages in the northern Veluwe.