Out of town The city of Amersfoort There’s more than enough to do in Utrecht, but it’s also worth venturing outside the city limits. UITagenda Utrecht is here to point the way. This time we’re heading to Amersfoort. City information Amersfoort is the second biggest city of the Utrecht province, after the city of Utrecht. The municipality has a population of over 160,000, making it one of the bigger and most important cities in the central Netherlands. Amersfoort is very old, it received city rights in the year 1259. The old city center is filled with beautiful churches, gates, walls, and other medieval buildings. Grab a bike or explore it by foot, there is a lot to discover! Museum Mondriaanhuis The Mondriaanhuis in Amersfoort is the birthplace of the renowned artist Piet Mondriaan (1872-1944). At this museum, you see how his work gradually evolved from realistic landscapes into abstract compositions featuring his infamous geometric grid-based paintings. In an interactive video installation, Mondriaan takes you on a tour of Amersfoort, via Paris and London, and finally to New York. The life-size replica of his Parisian studio shows you how Mondriaan created his own special living and working space. You see New York through the eyes of the artist himself: follow his artistic quest in 3D, ending in his ultimate masterwork, the ‘Victory Boogie Woogie’. > every Tuesday to Sunday, Mondriaanhuis (Kortegracht 11) mondriaanhuis.nl/en Municipal history Koppelpoort This land and water gate constructed in 1400 was part of the former city wall built around Amersfoort. To discover more about the history of the gate, join one of the daily guided tours given by Gilde Amersfoort, which include a visit to the top of the gate. The tours start from the Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren at 11.30 and 14.00. > daily, Koppelpoort (Kleine Spui 2, Amersfoort) gildeamersfoort.nl/en Modern art Kunsthal KAdE Just outside the city walls, close to the River Eem, you’ll find Kunsthal KAdE. This is the place to be for exhibitions of contemporary and modern art, architecture and design. The KAdEShop sells design articles, gadgets, jewellery and art books. > Tuesday to Sunday, Kunsthal KAdE (Eemplein 77) kunsthalkade.nl/en Climb the tower Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren If you’re curious to see what Amersfoort (and the surrounding areas) looks like from above, climb the 346 steps to the top of the Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren. This mediaeval tower is open at 14.00 every day, and also at 12.30 on Saturdays. > daily, Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren (Onze Lieve Vrouwekerkhof) onzelievevrouwetoren.nl/english Take a break Coffee Corazon Coffee, cake & lunch Krommestraat 18 Zandfoort aan de Eem Urban beach Eemlaan 100 Stadscafé Amersfoort Coffee, lunch & dinner Lieve Vrouwekerkhof 3