Ledig Erf: why living here is so lovely

The Oosterkade and Westerkade didn't use to be quays with trendy bars and restaurants and a jetty for sunbathing. There was a large silversmith's workshop, ‘Gebroeders Van Roosmalen’, the Van der Linden site was based here with a sand and gravel business with silos on the quay for shipping, and there was a taxi company where Orloff is now on the quay. You could also fill up with petrol here, and the cows walked straight from the farm on the Oosterkade into the meadow. How different is it now?

From industry to trendy hotspot

Little by little it has become a very lively area. There are beautiful buildings on the Oosterkade and the Westerkade. There's even still a farmhouse. You'll find great bars and restaurants here, and you can walk to Vaartsche Rijn station in no time. If you walk underneath Vaartsche Rijn station, you come out at the Rotsoord site. This used to be industrial too. In recent years this old industrial area has developed into a popular hotspot among Utrechters.

Drinks by the water

Atmospheric terraces by the water where you can enjoy the sun. Restaurant Le:en is in an old warehouse, where you can eat Asian food tapas-style. They also have a trendy cocktail menu. You can drink beers at Gist. For drinks, head to Klein Berlijn, a creative and cultural eetcafé with a lovely terrace by the water. A landmark of the area is the water tower, home to WT Urban Café & Kitchen. In this restaurant you can have lunch or dinner with a spectacular view over the city. The old Pastoe factory now houses restaurant de Zagerij & Het Ketelhuis. Want a slightly more laid-back atmosphere? Then go to Camping Ganspoort. Here you can drink Almdudler with a view of the boats.

Apartments and hotels

Rotsoord is developing on several fronts. Besides the wide range of restaurants and cafés, more and more homes are coming to the site too. From new apartment buildings with an industrial look to homes in old factories. An old Citroën garage is also currently being converted into a hotel with 172 rooms. Looking for a nice flexible workspace while you're in Utrecht? At DAAR you'll find space to work and hold meetings.

Twijnstraat

The Twijnstraat is the oldest shopping street in Utrecht. The shopping street already existed in the 13th century. The Twijnstraat owes its name to the basket makers who wove baskets here from twigs (twijgen). Today the Twijnstraat is known for its specialist shops. Beautiful little boutiques for the most beautiful shoes & clothing. But the Twijnstraat also has cosy cafés and restaurants. You can go to Zies, a trendy wine bar & restaurant, eat pizza at the Pizzabakkers, dine at the Heeren van Leeuw with a view of the wharf, or have drinks at Lijn 4. For me it's real nostalgia to go shopping at the Kazerij. What a fantastic shop that is! The Twijnstraat really is one of my favourite streets in Utrecht. If you're moored in a boat on the Singel, this is the street where you do your shopping.

Ledig Erf

Ledig Erf, that's by the Louis Hartlooper complex, Meneer Smakers, Café De Poort and not forgetting Café Ledig Erf, right? No, actually not. But that's how it feels. The Ledig Erf is actually on the other side. These days you'll find restaurants here too. Piero's & de Beren, those are the places on the Ledig Erf. Still, when we talk about the Bock beer festival on the Ledig Erf, we simply mean the square just before the Twijnstraat.

Museum quarter

From the Twijnstraat you can cut straight through to the Nieuwegracht. Here you'll find the Miffy Museum (Nijntje Museum) and the Centraal Museum, and you come out at Proef Lokaal Rubens. In this part of Utrecht you'll find an enormous number of beautiful museums and cultural activities. Just walking along the Nieuwegracht, you won't know where to look. Together with the bend at the Twijnstraat on the wharf (Werf), this may well be the most beautiful bit of Utrecht.