Nijmegen is the oldest city in the Netherlands, with its origins going back to Roman times. It is situated about 90km south-east of Amsterdam on the Waal River in the province of Gelderland, not far from the German border.
Nijmegen is a relaxed but vibrant city combining history, parks, riverside life and a large student population. As a provincial Dutch city it is well worth a short visit in its own right and is an easy day trip from Amsterdam.
The city centre is compact and you can easily get around on foot or by bike.
Nijmegen in a nutshell
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Nijmegen Tourist Information Centre
The tourist office is Citystore Nijmegen located at Grote Markt 17 in the heart of the city. You can get free maps and leaflets on themed things to do in the city.
It is open 10:00-17:00 (Wed-Sun), open 10:00-17:00 (Tue – only July-Sep), closed Mondays.
Things To Do in Nijmegen
Valkhof Park
Valkhof Park is located on a hill overlooking the Waal riverjust east of Nijmegen centre. It is a pleasant park which was once the site of a Roman fortress and later a medieval citadel.
You will see the remains of the Barbarossa chapel in the centre of the park.
The Valkhof Chapel (Sint-Nicolaaskapel) is a small octagonal chapel dating back to the eleventh century and is one of the oldest buildings in the Netherlands.
The platform around the chapel provides elevated views of the river Waal. The chapel is open regularly and is worth stepping in.
To the south of the park is Museum Het Valkhof, which combines Roman-era archaeology and modern/contemporary art. The museum is currently under renovation and will reopen in summer 2026.
Riverside Walk & the Waalkade
The Waal River is the main distributary channel of the Rhine and flows 80km through the Netherlands to the North Sea. It is the busiest river in the country with hundreds of vessels passing daily.
The river is integral to Nijmegen’s identity and character.
The Waalkade (riverside promenade) is great place for a relaxing walk or an evening drink with a view.
You will spot 2 main bridges around the centre of Nijmegen – the Waalbrug on the eastern side and the Spoorbrug (railway bridge) on the western side – connected by the Waalkade.
Both bridges are accessible to pedestrians. You can cross over to the river park area which is made up of an artificial island Veur Lent. This was constructed during 2012-2015 along with a mirror channel (Spiegelwaal) to help improve water drainage and reduce flood risk.
It is possible to do a Waal river cruise from Nijmegen with Dutch pancakes included – book here
Museum De Bastei
Museum De Bastei is located between Valkhof park and the riverfront.
Built directly into the medieval city walls and the remains of a 15th-century bastion, the museum combines archaeology, wildlife and architecture. De Bastei focuses on Nijmegen’s relationship with the Waal River and its natural surroundings.
There are plenty of hands-on exhibits for all the family.
The rooftop terrace cafe offers wonderful views of the river and the Valkhof Chapel.
Open daily 10:00-17:00. Entrance costs €14 for adults, €8 for children 4-18, free for children 0-3 and Museumkaart holders.
Museum De Bastei, Lange Baan 4, 6511 XJ Nijmegen
Stevenskerk (St Stephen’s Church)
The Nijmegen skyline is dominated by the Gothic Stevenskerk (St Steven’s church) which has origins dating back to the 13th century. It is perched on a small hill in the city centre called the Hundisberg.
The church was severely damaged by aerial bombardment by US forces in 1944 and had to be rebuilt.
The church is generally open daily and visitors can wander around taking in the artwork, gravestones, carvings and stained glass windows. There are 3 organs in the church including the monumental König organ.
During the peak season (April-September) it is possible to climb the church tower via a guided tour.
Grote Markt and the city centre
The main square in Nijmegen is the Grote Markt which houses De Waagh, a weighing house built in 1613 in Dutch Renaissance style. It was here that traded goods could be officially weighed as at the time some unscrupulous merchants would often fiddle their scales.
Around the city centre you will find some other buildings of note.
The Latijnscheschool (Latin School) on the Sint Stevenskerkhof (opposite the Stevenskerk) is the oldest school building of the city. Built in 1544-45 it was used not only as a school but also for meetings and rowdy parties.
Huis van de Nijmeegse Geschiedenis at Mariënburg square is a former church (Mariënburg chapel) which is now a venue for exploring the city’s history via exhibitions and activities.
The Arsenaal on Mariënburg square is a former artillery warehouse built in 1824. It now contains a grand cafe and restaurant.
St. Jacobskapel (St. Jacob Chapel) is an old chapel dating from the 15th century. It can be found on the quiet Glashuis square just off the Lange Hezelstraat. Restored in 1965, it is today used as a venue for all kinds of events.
Kronenburgerpark
Kronenburgerpark is a beautiful city park on the western edge of the city centre and not far from Nijmegen station. With winding paths, old city walls, a large pond and the Kronenburger tower it is a great spot for a stroll or picnic.
Well known Dutch artist Frank Boeijen wrote a song about the park in 1985.
Fietsmuseum Velorama
Velorama is a cycle-themed museum on the riverfront with a unique collection of historic old bikes.
Open daily 10:00-17:00. Entrance costs €9 for adults, €6 for children 0-17. Note, the Museumkaart is not valid.
Velorama, Waalkade 107, 6511 XR Nijmegen
Nijmegen Street Art
Walking around the city you will notice a plethora of street art installations dotted around. The tourist office provides a street art walking tour and map with over 30 artistic works. Here are a few examples:
The Colourful Bird on Bloemerstraat:
Operation Market Garden mural on Lindeberg:
Hert (deer) on Hotel Credible at Hertogstraat:
Vogelhofje – bird houses on Glashuis:
Ooijpolder Nature Reserve
Crossing the Ooypoort walking bridge to the east of the city (just past the Waalbrug) leads into the Ooijpolder nature reserve. Here you will find wild horses and cattle, meadows, dikes and river inlets. It’s a beautiful and peaceful oasis so close to the city.
Shopping in Nijmegen
With a raft of independent stores and boutiques, Nijmegen is great for shopping and browsing. Check out the bustling market around Grote Markt on market days (normally Mondays and Saturdays).
The charming Lange Hezelstraat is one of the oldest shopping streets in the Netherlands and you can find all sorts of local specialties and independent shops. On the other side of Grote markt, Burchtstraat and its offshoots Marikenstraat and Broerstraat have more of your Dutch high street chains.
Venues in Nijmegen
The well known Goffertpark is a large park (83 hectares) used for concerts and recreation in the south-west of the city. The park has an open air theatre, a children’s petting zoo and Goffertstadion, the home football stadium of local team NEC Nijmegen.
It is a popular concert venue to many international pop/rock acts.
Doornroosje is the main indoor popular music venue in Nijmegen with a regular array of local and international acts.
For classical concerts the Concertgebouw De Vereeniging is the premium venue in Nijmegen. Opened in 1915, the building is a mix of art deco and art nouveau styling and is particularly renowned for its excellent acoustics.
Nijmeegse Vierdaagse
The Vierdaagse is the world’s largest walking event. Held over 4 days each July in and around Nijmegen, it draws tens of thousands of participants. It is essentially a week long outdoor festival with lots of activities, music and parades.
Where to Stay in Nijmegen
There are a number of hotel options in Nijmegen. For something stylish and quirky we tried out The Rebyl which is set in a former girls school from 1922. It is conveniently located in a nice neighbourhood close to the city centre.
It is a Marriott Tribute portfolio hotel and rates start at around €135. Book The Rebyl here
Getting to Nijmegen from Amsterdam
Nijmegen can be easily reached from Amsterdam Central by train – there are direct Intercity services which run around 2x hourly and services with 1 change at Utrecht also 2x hourly.
The journey takes around 1 hour 20 minutes via Utrecht, Ede-Wageningen and Arnhem.
A single costs €23.60 (2nd class) or €40.12 (1st class) – 2025 prices. Purchase online at the official NS (Dutch Railways) site here.
If making a day return trip then consider the Holland Travel Ticket which is valid for 1 day on all public transport in the country including trains (2nd class), buses, trams and metro. It costs €74 for anytime use or €51 for use outside the 06:30-09:00 weekday rush hour or anytime at weekends.
If you are in a group then the NS Group Ticket allows 2-7 people travel to make a single journey between any 2 stations on the Dutch rail network. This costs €36-€53 and can only be purchased online here – it’s not possible to buy it at the station.
Nijmegen bus station is adjacent to the train station. Buses from Breng can get you around the local area and there are also international services to Germany.
This article was originally published on 22 October 2025.
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