Is Utrecht the better Amsterdam? Travel tips and great places to visit

Amsterdam in the Netherlands is a great city - but is also has a huge problem with overtourism. So it's about time to show you an alternative: The city of Utrecht, 50 kilometers further south, is smaller, more cozy and a great student's town. Besides that it's stunning beautiful! Some people would even say: Utrecht is the better Amsterdam. But is it true? Let's check out the city!
A film by Matthias Schwarzer.
▪️ 0:00 - Welcome to Utrecht
▪️ 1:48 - Oudegracht
▪️ 2:52 - Utrecht city centre
▪️ 3:27 - Museum Speelklok
▪️ 4:54 - Utrecht Cathedral
▪️ 5:54 - Spoorwegmuseum
▪️ 7:21 - Rainbow cycle path
▪️ 8:50 - Is Utrecht the better Amsterdam?
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Intro Music:
MÆT - Start Again
Music:
Don't Keep Me Down (Instrumental Version) - Minsoo
Eternal Lounge - Toby Tranter
Granular Details - Nebulae
Lilo - Arden Forest
Memories of Fall - baegel
Onaji - Auxjack
Slapperoni Pizza - Jobii
Virtue - dreem
#Netherlands #Nederland #Holland #Utrecht #Travel #TravelVlog #SoloTraveling #TravelingAlone
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[@MatthiasSchwarzer]

Thanks for watching! Maybe you also like these videos: ◼️ Why the Netherlands have a biking culture (and other countries don't): kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWOyY35seZV7fZY ◼️ Filming locations of the Dutch movie "Jongens": kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqnLnYeNYtFpf5o ◼️ Travel tips Southern Sweden: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHzXoZpobtCsr9E ◼️ Travel tips Denmark: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pImqlYNuo9CYoZI Here you can support me on Patreon: patreon.com/MatthiasSchwarzer

[@johnroekoek9864]

Your pronunciation is not bad! The ou of oudegracht is pronounced as the ou in ouch.

[@johnroekoek9864]

The ee in speelklok is pronounced as A as in ABC.

[@ericleblanc9263]

I'm 13, I moved from France to Utrecht with family at 10 and I love this city so much everyone is so happy and I love the weather. (ps: the rainbow path is beautiful 💓)

[@Do3ck]

I've been living in Utrecht for 1 year and 1/2 now and I gotta say I'm delighted here. Coming from a gigantic city like Madrid, Amsterdam simply reminds me too much of the reasons why I ended up being a little bit done with my hometown. Don't get me wrong, I still love Amsterdam and the vibrant culture and atmosphere it has to offer, but I'd choose Utrecht over it because it's just so chill, cozy and still full of stuff to do, bars, clubs, parks and in general interesting things that make it an amazing place to live in. All this, 25 minutes away by train from Amsterdam Centraal.

[@lucasrem]

Madrid is very evil, capital in the dessert, rule the nation..... Utrecht is not that, you are right, just a small village, You should build an airport there! Amsterdam is the Barcelona of Holland, and Madrid the evil Den haag!

[@random9823]

Hi Pablo. What do you think is the best city for life? Utrecht or Valencia or Malaga.

[@FelixalPorto]

@@random9823Utrecht is the most liveable I suppose and absolutely beautiful. Valencia is the most bustling but therefore also quite busy and possibly overwhelming. Valencia however is quite a bit cheaper, especially everyday groceries and horeca!

[@sannynjoo9776]

Nice you like Utrecht. It's my hometown too for almost my whole life. It's one of the 4 big cities from the Randstad but it still feels like a small village :)

[@Do3ck]

@@random9823 hey sorry for the late response. Imo, one's preference in this regard depends mainly on what one considers essential within one's definition of "quality of life". Valencia or Málaga offer nice mild weather, a remarkable culinary scene, friendly people and the beach, of course. Utrecht, on the other hand, offers better job opportunities, (imo) more exciting and varied cultural/entertainment options (partly due to its short distance to Amsterdam/Rotterdam/The Hague) and in general, a more vibrant and international lifestyle. For my preferences, I would choose Utrecht. However, I would perfectly understand if someone chose otherwise.

[@stevenhoogenboom4128]

You should have shown Utrecht Central, it is the train station of Utrecht and it is the largest in the Netherlands, it is bigger than the station of Amsterdam. But after all, nice video. I live in Utrecht and I think its also better than Amsterdam.

[@theresurrectionmen8707]

Amsterdam is kind off trash for a long time now. To much toerist and people on drugs and hookers in front of windows everywhere no class weird vibes.

[@mynameismistere]

Thank you for featuring my rainbow cycle path 😄💪🏼

[@vivalila123]

This is a wonderful video, thank you! I appreciate how clear and concise you are, paired with great visuals. Well done!

[@GirtonOramsay]

Glad that I made Utrecht my home base for my vacation then! Medium sized cities in the USA has the same impression as being much more pleasant and enjoyable that the biggest nearby metros.

[@LadyXification]

Thank you so much for this wonderful video!

[@TravelingisFREEDOM]

This seems to be a very interesting place, I hope I can visit sometime in the future. Seeing and sharing places like this is why I love traveling and make videos so much! And please keep up the great job! Subscribed!!

[@Neo-zx4yn]

Honestly speaking, i like to watch you videos with the english language more than the german one because my biggest problems with emglish are the past, present and future words and sentences. You have a really clear articulation and i´m able to understand everything and i can also learn a bit what i do something wrong. Thank you very much for this kind of videos! All the best and take care. Grüße aus dem schönen Franken wo du letzt dran vorbeigefahren bist ;)

[@MatthiasSchwarzer]

Danke dir! 🙂

[@teresaravenshaw5477]

Please be aware that on at least one occasion in this video, present tense was used where past tense should have been. I forget the line now, however.

[@richmorris2870]

Also bear in mind he uses American English not British English.

[@gulbanizabbasova5165]

I applyed for phd at Utrecht University. Hope I will be accepted and move this magnificient city🥰

[@thewatchmen4920]

I enjoy videos like this of other countries and learning how to pronounce different things and cities. It makes me seem like I'm smart 😄😁😃. Thank you for the video 🇺🇲

[@truigrunland6817]

Habe dieses Video gerade erst entdeckt! Bin Niederländerin wohne aber schon ewig in Süd-West Deutschland. Utrecht ist meine Heimatstadt und habe mich riesig gefreut die Stadt zu sehen! Für mich die schönste Stadt überhaupt!

[@theshahofiran902]

Ich bin in Zürich aufgewachsen und lebte auch in Halifax Kanada und in den Emiraten. Ich überlege mir nach Utrecht zu ziehen diesen sommer. Irgendwas reitzt mich dort hinzuziehen.

[@Lodewijk99]

man loveee, you really help me with this video

[@lechef1867]

Ich habe Utrecht vor 2 Jahren entdeckt, hatte es nie aufm Schirm. Ich liebe Utrecht alles was du sagst stimmt,es ist einfach eine wundervolle Stadt in allen Belangen. Ein Idealer Tipp für ein gemütliches WE mit Freundin oder Frau aber genauso um mit Freunden. Hin da!

[@boyifyouboomeimaboobooonyall]

Oh yeah IMO its more chill and prettier

[@sibbzteunissen3393]

Utrecht is wonderful, have lived there for 15 years. After 10 years abroad I can't wait to return

[@stefanganowsky266]

Ganz toll! Utrecht ist eine wunderbare Stadt und sie ist ganz sicher mittlerweile die entspanntere Stadt zu Amsterdam. Eine von den ganz tollen Beiträgen, die Du bis dato gemacht hast. Weiter machen! Weiter machen! Weiter machen! Ach ja, der „Fiets“-Beitrag war ebenso toll und ja, Du hast es auf den Punkt gebracht. Unser Good Old Germany hat da ncht nur eine Lernkurve vor sich!… Alles Beste weiter!

[@MatthiasSchwarzer]

Dankeschöön! 🙂

[@jpkmann]

Danke für das tolle Video. Utrecht kenne ich selbst noch nicht und werde das ändern- aus Münster ist es ja nicht ganz so weit! LG

[@olyan3177]

Great video! Thanks

[@tobiasgerhart6062]

Das Video kommt zu spät. War gestern dort 😄👍 Ich werde die Tipps beim nächsten mal berücksichtigen 😊🍀

[@kulusjibbie]

Utrecht is the best! My home 🏡!

[@kalsterling719]

Totally agree, just back after 5 days[03-24], loved it…. Stayed at Karel V, a jem hotel

[@roseaquino9981]

Amazing

[@RangeMcrangeface]

Great video Matthias! I have visited Amsterdam, but now Utrecht is a must for my next! Also, I thought you were saying psychopath instead of cycle path. They are diverse if they have colorful psychopaths!

[@heatherowens7437]

❤very nice. We are going to vacation in this area

[@oileduab]

I just love Utrecht !!!

[@thunderkinginkwark271]

Sehr gutes video

[@richmorris2870]

I used to live in Utrecht. In your opening piece about too many tourists in Amsterdam, the same could be said for students in Utrecht (driving up house prices etc for locals). It is undoubtedly much nicer and just as interesting than Amsterdam.

[@GirtonOramsay]

What? How do students drive up the price for rent when student accommodations are supposed to be cheaper...the big college town in my US state is the cheapest rent for cities over 100K population.

[@JaapTedros]

​@@GirtonOramsay The US is known for enormous "student campuses" with tons of "dorms" and student housing, which aren't really a thing in the Netherlands. As a Dutch student you need to look all across the city (or sometimes neighboring cities) for any rooms or apartments you can rent. There's some private student housing organisations in certain cities but even those don't guarantee all students to have housing (by far!). Some students stay in with random families who rent out their spare rooms / attic / etc, others keep living with their parents and travel to university by public transport. Some students even buy a house together, and split the monthly mortgage costs.

[@GirtonOramsay]

@@JaapTedros We definitely have plenty of "commuter" students too, which stay local to live within 1-2 hr drive of a campus and their parents' home. Or students finding creative housing options, like renting a room from a rich student whose parents bought him a house. The bigger universities definitely provide international student and even family housing (complete with daycare), aside from dorms for US students. At least they don't usually end up like students in NL as you described, having to be homeless in some cases.

[@AnDrea-gx8km]

Huhu Matthias 🙋‍♀️🌻

[@fernandomilicich8160]

Beauty ❤

[@siggivanutrecht]

De "Oudegracht" betekent "Alte Gracht" of "Alter Kanal" in het Duits - maar het Duitse woord "Kanal" wordt in het Nederlands als "Kanaal" geschreven. Hartelijk bedankt voor deze mooie video van mijn geboortestad. Dank U wel!! Groetjes Siggi van Utrecht

[@GMorning10]

I just visited Utrecht yesterday, it was a beautiful city with good balance of energy and chaos …..modern and historic ….innovation and tradition Unfortunately, the wall of the iconic bell tower is still under renovation and won’t be finished by end of 2024

[@fedjadriesen9799]

Finally a tourist who mentions utrecht

[@tugbaozkan207]

totally agree, Utrecht is more beautiful than Amsterdam. I wish I can live in Utrecht one day

[@mardiffv.8775]

Alles stimmt was Matthias sagt, ich wohne in Utrecht.

[@JJBoon-gs1fy]

As a guy born in Utrecht and now living in The Hague a prefer Utrecht over Amsterdam. I simply feel not at home in Amsterdam, I do not like the people of Amsterdam. The city of Amsterdam has beautiful sights, I know but still ..... My mother, being German liked Amsterdam more and visited the city on a regular basis. It took me until I was in my twenties to visit Amsterdam for the first time.

[@lucasrem]

too many Allah freaks, we need to kick them back harder! Why all the Allah freaks take over Amsterdam?

[@robindiscovering]

My hometown, ofcourse it's better then Amsterdam! Good video and spot on that Utrecht is not overrun by tourists like Amsterdam and therefore it has a more local feel.

[@ChesswithDaveNZ]

I really like the rainbow bike path, wow, and your Dutch sounds good, better than mine. I laughed when Auckland NZ came up in your video. Parents from Amsterdam & Hague. Regards, and thanks.

[@randar1969]

Some things are indeed much better in Utecht and i say that as resident of Amsterdam. They have better bycicle infrastructure to give a example and the list would go on and on. Ok you won't find to give an example the Anne Frank house in Utrecht, but they got plenty of other things that are worth a visit.

[@pbilk]

Utrecht is a great city! I loved it! When my family and I visited the Netherlands we stayed near Utrecht in Woerden where a friend lives. The canal tour was a great but I think for a tourist Amsterdam's canal tours are still better. Besides that Utrecht's bike infrastructure and other activities are great!

[@mariusmatei2946]

Well, when it comes to countries like Denmark, or Netherlands, personally, (in terms of living there) I favour cities like Utrecht, or Århus (over cities like Copenhagen, or Amsterdam), because (although not large cities) they are (still) midsize cities, with everything that Copenhagen/Amsterdam have to offer (the same quality of life/standards of living), but at lower/more affordable costs of living.

[@lucasrem]

Denmark is too many Allah freaks now, you need to save the nation, it's already too late! They will never support us!

[@jasonlee2868]

That’s very nice,I want to study in Utrecht university ,but it will very hard to a non- native speaker.

[@merenwen4495]

Not really. If you speak English you should be perfectly fine.

[@Renate-wf3nj]

Find a place to sleep, that will be hard 🛏️

[@jannetteberends8730]

Comparing Utrecht with Amsterdam is an insult, for Utrecht. Utrecht was already for 1000 year a city when Amsterdam was not even started yet.

[@mardiffv.8775]

Correct, Utrecht was founded by the Romans.

[@fumuki9281]

I want to go study to Utrecht so bad

[@urbandiscount]

Tourists, please stay in Amsterdam and leave Utrecht to us. And that goes for you too, Mr Schwarzer. You think it's a good idea for Utrecht to be overrun by tourists in turn?

[@musiclevel]

Utrecht und Rotterdam gefallen mir wesentlich besser als Amsterdam. Irgendwann wird noch Den Haag besichtigt 😁

[@mardiffv.8775]

Jawohl, Den Haag ist auch schön. Frieden Palast (Vredespaleis), Reichtag (Binnenhof) und Madurodam (Miniatur Niederlände) kann Du sehen. Und der Strand von Scheveningen ist in die Nähe.

[@joshuajay8949]

At 6:56 is that mouse running across the wooden beam!?

[@MatthiasSchwarzer]

Yes, but it‘s not a real one. 😛

[@kermitrooseveltferkelroose9537]

i go there in summer gives there coffeeeee shops ? i must google it :D

[@lucasrem]

Roosveld, you must be Dutch descent too! Heil Allah?

[@pkrmkn31]

is there coffee shops?

[@randar1969]

Any major city in the Netherlands has coffee shops.

[@derbartige3125]

Hey Mathias wo finde ich das Parkhaus?

[@MatthiasSchwarzer]

P+R Utrecht Science Park Universiteitsweg, 3584 CT Utrecht

[@mardiffv.8775]

Es gibt auch Papendorp P+R, am Mercatorstraat. Dort kannst Du mit die Bus. Holiday Inn Hotel ist in die Nähe, am Deventerlaan.

[@ivanvaraschin657]

4:25 didn't expect to find tango in a place like this

[@larossejourney2391]

I wanna be there much but I can not go there , generally, I wanna Amsterdam than other cities

[@vanderquast]

Amsterdam: ❌❌❌☹️ Rotterdam: ✔️✔️✔️😎

[@randar1969]

Too bad that your pride into your city has turned into dislike of another. let me guess influenced by soccer rivalry hatred?

[@rommelbaylon3903]

6:58 did anyone else see the mouse photo bombing the video?

[@Amersfoortpower]

You can also visit a match of FC Utrecht

[@sandeepsomasunder3397]

Are people not wearing masks ? When was it shot ?

[@anthonydowling3356]

Recently .

[@marcinhoyt8594]

Bald 20 k 🙌

[@MatthiasSchwarzer]

🚀

[@erhanozdemir4721]

😀

[@joachinliszewski6099]

Miss tchis please

[@RonieNerbes-mt9ko]

I Love Jonna Napire 💜💚♥️ APRIL 21, 2024

[@dutchgameplaydaily2022]

I like eindhoven

[@kingmickey666]

" This is a town called Utrecht ".... Ouch. That's the city where I live in. How could you.

[@Paul_C]

Channel or kanaal.. don't try to mix langues... if all fail just use Your native language, pretty much the same pronunciation... if everything fails, call it gracht...

[@LK-pc4sq]

I talked to a american woman who said she needs to be armed to protect her self. I said in other countries you dont need to be armed because there is no guns in those countries and they are safer then anywhere else on earth.

[@lucasrem]

Holland is Allah now, be protected now! Allah is NOT love!!!!!

[@mavadelo]

No, we are not the better Amsterdam... we are NOT Amsterdam... I like Utrecht better though. Not gonna say we are better because that is a "to each their own" type of thing.

[@AlyxGlide]

Hope that Utrecht is treated better than Amsterdam

[@timvleut3976]

I born and live in Utrecht it’s my city i love it but i hate so much that ugly rainbow no one likes it i can tell you guys but Utrecht is my heart.

[@floribertkayoya5524]

I was in the Nethelands in 2011.I got a chance that place of music and the musem of the train

[@floribertkayoya5524]

When you visit Utrecht,there is alot student mean there is universities

[@MrMarcoAlvarado]

Now, all the "Zombies" are coming to Utrecht instead of Amsterdam!!

[@Tardis216]

Amsterdam is overrun, lets go to Utrecht and overrun that city. Let's go there with a hundred thousand and fill the tiny centre to imagine how peaceful and quiet it was when we were not there yet. Is that the message? If not, what is?

[@FelixalPorto]

Utrecht will never get as crowded as Amsterdam, solely because of the difference in size and sights. This is just a nice video that makes more people aware of and praises an amazing city that is worth visiting but is often overlooked.

[@Tardis216]

@@FelixalPorto Dat het centrum van Utrecht zo klein is is precies de reden waarom het zo snel vol loopt. Misschien ben je nog nooit in het zomerseizoen de tweede helft van de week in het hart van Utrecht geweest? Ik woon daar en werk er als rondleider. Van donderdag t/m zondag vermijd ik het hart van het centrum, er is dan geen lol meer aan, zo druk.

[@franswells]

Disgusting to spend so much money to spray a street in rainbow colors. Don't push it like that.

[@whateverIwasthinkingatthetime]

Colours 😨😰😰

[@simonindra3225]

Utrecht is nice but it is not Amsterdam. Living in Utrecht almost all my life I should know.but it is coming up.meaby in 20years from now. You can say so.

[@rafiasurti9082]

Hi . My daughter will b starting work soon in Utrecth. And I'm really worried for her. How do u go looking for accomadation. Please if anyone can help me.

[@harenterberge2632]

Please stay away from Utrecht, don't turn it to a airbnb hellhole like Amsterdam.

[@hanswurst8235]

Really gay bike path

[@rescuemod]

The rainbow cycle path looks in my opinion not good and changes nothing. The Netherlands are today a very tolerant country and the latest ones wont change there mind because of some colours on the ground. But for everybody who are not happy with the gender culture of today got a hit in the face with such actions. It makes the fronts harder. Like gender language in Germany. And it costs money with no benefit.

[@FelixalPorto]

What’s not to like about it, some nice colors instead of the standard Brown-red..

[@rescuemod]

@@FelixalPorto Horses get's real problems with the rainbows. The problem with the "Progressive Pride Flag" is the ideology. Everyone talk about sexuality in context with that flag. But why are strips for black people in these? Which kind of people are NOT included in that flag? White hetero people... So, why should we color a cycle path in this colors? It changes NOTHING by people who hate people with other sexuality. It's all about virtue signaling. The money is better invested in new housing or something else...

[@whateverIwasthinkingatthetime]

​@@rescuemodAre you by any chance part of the rainbow Conglomerate

[@johnnash7350]

Just be inclusive.. no need for Rainbows.. it looks horrible and visually not appealing.. The minimalist in me really doesn't like it..