A student guide to Utrecht - Discover the hidden gems!

Dienstag, 28. Januar 2020 • Lilly
We all enjoy discovering a city in the most unique and memorable way possible. And the best way to do so, is by being accompanied by a local from the area or city. As being a local of Utrecht, I would like to provide you with the best spots and hidden gems of the stunning city. You should definitely check them out when visiting!


Utrecht is a buzzing student city, located right in the heart of the Netherlands. Just a 40 minute train ride from the capital city of Amsterdam, the city is easy reachable and a day trip is possible. The city attracts visitors with its beautiful canals, a historic city centre and laid back cafés and bars.

Getting around 


OV-fiets
To explore the city in the best way possible, it is recommendable to rent a bike! Be aware, that if you are not used to biking in the Netherlands it can be quite overwhelming in the beginning. But on the other hand, biking in the Netherlands is perfect, as bicycle lanes are provided all around the city and you are way quicker, than you would ever be by foot. Furthermore, you have the opportunity to discover a wider reach of the city.

Address: Stationsplein 131
Opening Times: 24 hours
Recommendation: /
Price: €€





 Cafés and food 



Brunch at Anne & Max
Since the last year the chain has two spots in the city. I would recommend the bigger one, which is located at Donkere Gaard 4.
The cozy cafe serves brunch and breakfast options in a relaxing setting. Anne & Max offer vegan and vegetarian friendly options and the pricing is moderate. I can highly redommend to order banana bread and a 'verse muntthee'.

Address: Donkere Gaard 4
Opening Times: 8:00/9:00 till afternoon
Recommendation: Banana bread
Price: €-€€





Lemongrass Thai Takeaway 
Lemongrass is a small Thai food delivery service. Hidden in one of the narrow streets, it is quite difficult to find, but tourists and locals alike take the search to enjoy a hot Thai dish. As they take in your order, your dish will be freshly prepared and within minutes the small shop is filled with tasty smell of spices and coconut. Overall the whole atmosphere is welcoming and lively! Depending on the weather, you have the option to either take your food and see if you can find a spot at the canals, or you can grab a bar chair and enjoy your food in the restaurant.

Address: Nicolaasstraat 1
Opening Times: closed on Monday, 12:00-21:00
Recommendation: A curry with tofu
Price: €




Jasmijn & Ik
This asian-fusion kitchen inspired restaurant is worth a visit. The taste of the dishes will be a discovery of new spice combinations and your tastebuds will have a celebration. Another plus point for me, is that the menu can be adapted to diet requirements, such a vegan and vegetarian. As the dishes arrive at your table you will be stunned by the detailed presentation of the dishes! One last point to mention: If you are on a student budget this might be a place to either be taken from your parents, or only do once in a year, it can be a bit pricy!

Address: Kanaalstraat 219-221
Opening Times: closed on Sunday and Monday, 17:30-23:00/0:00
Recommendation: Vegan Dumplings
Price: €€-€€€





Shopping 


Twijnstraat 
If you are in the mood for a round of window shopping, I can only advise you to check out Twijnstraat! Twijnstraat is one of the oldest shopping streets in the city of Utrecht. The beautiful shopping street is home to a variety of small boutiques, cafés and original gift shops! A shop close to the Twijnstraat is the chocolate shop 'Cacao' (Address: Oudegracht 179). Make sure to pass by for a visit, as the shop offers a selection of handmade chocolates and pralines. If you are lucky you might be offered a small bite of chocolate to try. Delicious!

Address: Twijnstraat
Opening Times: most of the shops morning till late afternoon
Recommendation: Chocolate Shop Cacao
Price: €- €€-€€€



Lijnmarkt 
Besides the Wijnstraat you can check out Lijnmarkt, a street which lays close by. Many boutiques offer great choices to add some fashionable pieces to your wardrobe. The Lijnmarkt is a lovely street filled with many shoe and fashion stores. When looking for some individual pieces, I would recommend a visit to the Domstraat. The small stores with their handpicked fashion items will amaze you! Concluding, when looking for a shopping opportunity within the Netherlands, Utrecht is definitely worth a visit, or even two!

Address: Lijnmarkt
Opening Times: most of the shops morning till late afternoon
Recommendation:
Price: €- €€-€€€




Sightseeing and Parks


Domtoren 
Nestled right in the heart of the city is the Dom Tower of Utrecht. The climb of the historical Dom Tower will take you exactly 465 steps up. Luckily the tour up the Tower includes some stops so you won't have to climb it all in one go. In addition the rewarding waits for you as soon as you reach the top: The view over the city is breathtaking! The Dom Tower is open to visitors all year long and you will be able to explore the Tower in a guided tour. Furthermore, special activities within the Dom Tower are offered once in a while.

Address: Domtoren
Opening Times: 10:00-17:00
Recommendation:
Price: 7.50€ / Student



Wilhelminapark
Last but not least, the Wilhelminapark. Located in the East of Utrecht, the park offers a great opportunity for a lunch break. Make sure to bring some typical dutch 'borrel' and stop by at an Albert Heijn to grab some baguette, hummus and some drinks. The popular park is visited by locals and tourists alike and everyone enjoys the green space in the city. With its memorable fountain and many old trees the park has something enchanted, almost fairytale like. During the weekdays you can spot yoga courses, runners and football teams in the park.

Address: Wilhelminapark
Opening Times: /
Recommendation:  grab some snacks at Juuls Hummus
Price: free


Have you visited the city of Utrecht yet? If so, what are your secret gems in Utrecht?


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50+ simple tips be become more sustainable in 2020!

Samstag, 4. Januar 2020 • Lilly
Good afternoon,
the new year is here! And what would be a better start for the new year then some good lifestyle changes! Therefore I would like to share over 50 tips with you on how you can adapt to a more sustainable lifestyle and that in all kind of areas of your life. Furthermore these tips are easy and simple and you can start implementing them right now. Especially when it comes to topics such as eco-friendliness and sustainability it is important to keep in mind that every little step and change has an impact! Even if you are not able to perform all of these tips at once it is worth trying to do your best each and every day. If you have additional tips which I should not have mentioned in this article then please feel free to share them in the comments.


Content of this article:


➤ Sustainable lifestyle - what does this mean?
➤ Daily activities - Sustainable tips
➤ Travel - Sustainable tips
➤ Grocery shopping - Sustainable tips
➤ Transport - Sustainable tips
➤ Kitchen - Sustainable tips
➤ Office - Sustainable tips

What does a sustainable lifestyle mean:

First and foremost, the definition of a sustainable lifestyle differs from person to person. In the past year I identified for myself that a sustainable lifestyle includes being mindful about all my daily activities. Bringing my own bags to grocery shopping, buying more products plastic free and in bulk, always bringing a reusable water bottle, as well as coffee mug and much more. Especially during that time, I realized that even the small steps can make a big difference and I would like to share some of them with you. I hope they might help you to start the new year with a happier and more environmentally friendly approach. It could be a great idea to pick a few points from each area and try to implement more and more tips as you go. There could not be a better way to challenge yourself in the beginning of 2020!

Daily activities - tips 

1. Bring a water bottle wherever you go.
2. Use a shampoo and conditioner without micro plastic.
3. Reduce online shopping.
4. Take shorter showers.
5. Purchase plants for your rooms, they not only purify the air, but also improve your well-being.
6. Recycle your waste.
7. Eat home-cooked meals to prevent takeaway containers.
8. Avoid using the clothing-dryer and instead hang your clothes to dry.
9. Start second hand shopping.
10. Adapt small steps in your lifestyle.
11. Spread the word and knowledge with friends and family.
12. Choose native plants to attract bees and birds.
13. Have some veggie days during the week. 


Travel - tips

14. Reduce your flights to a limit.
15. Do not make use of the hotel laundry service.
16. Pack light and only what you need. 
17. Travel by land, if possible. 
18. Purchase Carbon-Offsets for potential flights. 
19. Eat at local places. 


Grocery shopping - tips 

20. Ditch plastic bags.
21. Try to buy plastic free products. 
22. If possible, buy products in bulk.
23. Buy loose tea.
24. Bring your own jute bags.
25. Use food waste saving apps, such as 'Too good to go'.
26. Shop at the farmers market.
27. When buying veggies and fruits try to purchase seasonal and local products. 
28. Check where the food is coming from. Long transportation routes should be prevented.
29. Buy imperfect products to reduce your carbon footprint. 
30. Potatoes are a great choice when trying to buy an eco friendly carb, as they do not require a lot of water. 


Kitchen - tips 

31. Only cook what you need.
32. Make use of reusable straws. 
33. Use bee-wax wrappers instead of plastic wrapping to keep products fresh.
34. Use glass jars for storage. 
35. Grow your own herbs.
36. Use chemical-free cleaning products, such as a natural dishwasher liquid.
37. Multi-use your pot while cooking, for example, boiling pasta water while steaming broccoli.
38. Use coffee ground as a dishwasher alternative to reduce stains in pots and pans. 


Transportation - tips 

39. Take your bike more often.
40. Always take the stairs over the elevator.
41. Drive sensible. Hard braking consumes more fuel.
42. Walk it out.
43. If you use the car, try to combine tasks and errands. 
44. Take bus and train when commuting.


Office tips

45. Bring your own lunchbox to the deli.
46. Only print if necessary.
47. Use double-sided printing option. 
48. Bring a reusable coffee mug.
49. Unplug electronic devices during the night.
50. Turn off / Dim lights and use as much natural light as possible.
51. Start a sustainability challenge with the whole office.
52. Buy a plant for your desk. 
53. Encourage shared transportation. 
54. Use a digital projector for agendas during meetings instead of printing them out. 


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