Utrecht Halal Explorer Utrecht Halal Restaurants (2024)

This Muslim Friendly Travel Guide is part of eHalal.io Travel GroupUtrecht Oudegracht Domtoren - The Oudegracht. In the centre the Dom Church tower.

Utrecht is a central Dutch city with a long history. With 300,000 inhabitants, it’s the fourth largest city in the Netherlands.

Utrecht Halal Travel Guide

The history of the city goes back to 47 AD when the Roman emperor Claudius ordered his general Corbulo to build a defensive line along the river Rhine which was the northern most border of the empire. One of the strongholds (or Castella) along the river was built at a crossing in the river and was called Traiectum (which means crossingplace). In the local language this became Trecht, Uut-Trecht (lower-Trecht) and later Utrecht. On the place where once the castellum stood now stands the Domchurch built in the 13th century.

Utrecht is known as a student city with a large population of single young people. This results in a booming nightlife with many places to have a quick meal, some drinks or a dance.

• VVV Utrecht Informatie Centrum - Utrecht Tourism Board Centre| @recht.nl - Domplein 9 - GPS: 52.090967, 5.121029 ☎ +31 30-236 00 04| tollfree= Opening Hours: Monday 12:00-17:00, Tuesday - Saturday 10:00-17:00, Sunday 12:00-17:00| price=

Travel as a Muslim to Utrecht

Muslim Friendly Rail Holidays in Utrecht

• Utrecht Centraal Station - GPS: 52.089316, 5.109972 - Utrecht Centraal train station Utrecht central station The hub of the Dutch rail network, it is easily accessible directly, or with one change of train, from almost every station in the Netherlands. For instance and there are frequent direct connections from Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport (even at night), each taking 30 minutes for about €8 one-way. The high-speed train ICE to Cologne, Frankfurt and Basel stops in Utrecht every two hours.

The train station is at the western edge of the old city. A 5-minutes walk through the Hoog Catharijne shopping center (follow signs to “Centrum”) will take you from the station to the city or the bus station.

Travel on a Bus in Utrecht

The bus station is next to the train station. International buses depart from the western side of the train station ('Jaarbeurszijde'), while the regional and city buses depart from separate stations on the east and west side of the train station. The regional buses are much slower than the trains. For information about the city buses, check the U-OV website, this is the company that provides public transport services in and around the city of Utrecht. Buses to the smaller towns around Utrecht are run by BBA, Arriva and Connexxion]. Time schedules for train and bus can be found here].

By car

If you are coming in by car, park your vehicle in one of the many parking garages around the city (follow the signs) and walk from there. Electronic signs display the number of parking spaces available in any given lot as well as directions to the lot, and if the sign says Vol it means the lot is full. Expect to pay around €2.60 per hour at any of the garages in the center. Parking on the curbside is also feasible, but even more expensive. Expect to pay €4 to €5 an hour in advance at the meter. Parking fines are around €70 and frequenty enforced, so make sure to get back to your vehicle before the ticket expires. It’s best to avoid driving into central Utrecht. Instead, leave your vehicle at the city perimeter and take a bus or tram into the center.

There are 2 transferiums (westraven & papendorp) where you can park your vehicle for the day at a flat rate of around €4, including transit to the downtown by bus or tram for up to 5 passengers. One is on the southern side of the city, very close to the A12 highway exit number 17. The Nieuwegein-Utrecht tram line has a stop at this transferium and departs 8 times an hour daytime, 4 times an hour evening and weekends. Going back you can take a tram bound for either Nieuwegein or IJsselstijn and the last one departs at about 00:30. The other transferium is near the football stadium, and connected to the downtown by bus. The frequency of the bus service is comparable to that of the trams.

By tram

Utrecht is connected to two neighboring towns by a high-speed tram line. At the edge of the city, close to the A12 and A2 motorways, you will find Transferium Westraven]. It's a good idea to park your vehicle there and to take the tram into town. The last two stop is at Utrecht Centraal Station. You will need to cross the train station and the shopping center Hoog Catherijne to get to the inner city.

€5 will allow you to park your vehicle all day and to travel into the city with a maximum of five people. Visiting Utrecht by vehicle doesn't come cheaper than this.

How to get around in Utrecht

UtrechtStreet - Pedestrian street

Walking or using a bike is the easiest way to travel in the city of Utrecht.To use the public transportation in the Netherlands, it is recommended to buy an Netherlands#OV-chipkaart|OV-chipcard. You can buy these on the central bus station (lower level of Utrecht Centraal Station), at kiosks inside the central train station or at some book stores and grocery stores. The OV chipcard is valid for bus, train and tram and works like a debit card that you must first charge with an amount. Buses do take cash though.

By bike

Using a bike is the easiest way to travel in the downtown if the weather is on your side. There are many bicycle shops near the train station where you can rent bikes. Alternatively, if you have an OV chipcard you can Rail travel in the Netherlands#OV-Fiets|rent an OV-Fiets for €3.85 per 24 hours at one of the railway stations. Do make sure that you have good locks on your bike, as bike thefts are unfortunately quite common in the downtown. Also it's a good idea to make use of the free bike parking areas provided by the city council. They are usually guarded and are a safe place to park your bike.

Also recommended is to do a bike tour. There are several bike tour companies offering guided city tours. There are also cycle routes starting in the centre of Utrecht, which you can download for free: Utrecht Forts Cycle Route].

Travel on a Bus in Utrecht

A good alternative is taking the bus, which goes often and will take you nearly everywhere. Utrecht Centraal Station serves as the main bus hub for Utrecht as well as the main train hub for the Netherlands. Most buses run from early morning (around 06:00) until just after midnight. City center rides cost ~€2.50.

In addition and there are several so-called nightlines. These cost €5-6 and can’t be paid for using strips or OV-chipcard.

By tram

In Utrecht there is a tram line from central station to southern suburbs Nieuwegein and IJsselstein. For tourists, only the first stops will be interesting, Westplein and Graadt van Roggeweg. These are located next to the Turkish neighbourhood and the main convention centre respectively.

By car

Seeing Utrecht by vehicle is not recommended. The city planners have made it as difficult as feasible to navigate the downtown, to try and discourage cars there. Driving around can be frustrating as the center is fraught with bus-only lanes, one-way streets, traffic lights and terribly expensive parking spaces. If you want to come by vehicle it is recommended to park at one of the P+R (Park and Ride)] places, and take a affordable shuttle bus or tram service into town. There are also several parking garages closer to the center, but they are more expensive.

What to see in Utrecht

Around the Domplein

DeDom - De Dom at Dawn

• Dom van Utrecht - Domkerk | Achter de Dom 1 GPS: 52.090833, 5.121667 Opening Hours: May-September: Monday to Friday 10:00-17:00, Saturday 10:00-15:30, Sunday 12:30-16:00; October - Apr: Monday to Friday 11:00-15:00, Saturday 10:00-15:30, Sunday 12:30-16:00 St. Martin's Gothic Church, Utrecht DomTorenUtrechtNederland - The Gothic Dom church (built between 1284 and 1520) is the major religious building in the city. It was a part of a larger cathedral which was partially destroyed by a severe storm while under construction. When a hurricane hit the town in 1674 and the badly constructed nave collapsed, which is the reason that today the Domtoren (Bell Tower) and the church itself are separated by the Domplein (Dom Plaza). The interior of the church was stripped down of every sculpture during Reformation, but the exterior remains a lavishly decorated example of Dutch Gothic architecture.

• DOMunder - Dom Plaza (Domplein) GPS: Opening Hours: guided lal-tours/ tours Tuesday - Sunday 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30 €11 An interesting museum/guided tour under the Dom Plaza about the Romans in Utrecht.
• Pandhof Domkerk - cloister garden | - GPS: at the South side of the Dom church - Just sit down, relax, and listen to a Saturday morning carillon concert.
• Domtoren - Dom Tower - 52.090679, 5.121297 Opening Hours: only by guided lal-tours/ tours (1 hr) Tuesday - Saturday 10:00-17:00, Sunday - Monday 12:00-17:00 €9; tickets could also be booked online - 112 m tall, it is the highest church tower in the Netherlands. It is also the highest building in the city by municipal mandate. Climbing up the stairs to see the magnificent view on the top is highly recommended, but beware of the narrow, steep stairs. On clear days you can look as far as Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Home to the second largest set of bells in Europe (after Cologne), and a carillon which is often played by musicians at the weekend.
• Pieterskerk - GPS: 52.091389, 5.124444 - Pieterskerk, Utrecht 18297-Pieterskerk - Consecrated in 1048.
• Stadhuis - City Hall | Korte Minrebroederstraat 2 GPS: 52.09177, 5.11958 at the Oudegracht - Stadhuis Utrecht - It has a rather imposing look.

Oudegracht

It is a major canal going through the heart of the city, with shops and restaurants on both sides. This canal is unique because of its many picturesque cellars on water level. Centuries ago they were used for storage and commerce. Nowadays, many of them host fine restaurants and pubs. In the summer you can find nice terraces at the water here.

• Stadhuisbrug - GPS: 52.09139, 5.11972 - Utrecht Canals Aerial View - July 2006 - Perhaps it's the most famous bridge over the Oudegracht. It was created in 1547 by vaulting a space between the older two bridges: the Huidenbrug and the Broodbrug, thus creating one of the major squares in the old town.
• Kalisbrug - GPS: 52.090878, 5.120236 - Vismarkt Utrecht A - It's another bridge over the Oudegracht which make a small square between Steenweg and Vismarkt. In the middle of the 16th century older 2 bridges – the Kalisbrug (or Visbrug) and Corduanierbrug – were connected together making the current Kalisbrug.

Notable buildings

Rietveld Schröderhuis HayKranen-20 - |Rietveld Schröder House

• Rietveld Schröderhuis - Rietveld Schröder House | Prins Hendriklaan 50 GPS: 52.085333, 5.147597 bus line 8 (direction Wilhelminapark), stop De Hoogstraat; or 20 min on foot from the Centraal Museum alternatively a bike could be rented (sic!) there ☎ +31 30-2362 310 | Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11:00-17:00 (11:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00); visits only by a prior booking €15.50 (also includes admission to the Centraal Museum, on the same day) Rietveld Schröder House Rietveld Schröderhuis HayKranen-20 - The house, designed by Gerrit Rietveld, was built in 1923-1924 in Utrecht. The structure of the house is completely in line with the ideas of the art movement De Stijl (The Style). The house was designed and built for Truus Schröder-Schräder, who lived from 1924 till her death in 1985. It can only be visited under supervision of a tour guide. In 2000 the house was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

HoofdpostkantoorUrecht - Inside the former Main Post Office

• Postkantoor Utrecht - Hoofdpostkantoor | Neude 11 GPS: 52.093056, 5.117778 - Postkantoor Neude1 - Q7474243 - The former Main Post Office is an outstanding and surprising building. The Utrecht main Post Office is a great example of Dutch Art Deco architecture. The Post Office, on the Neude Plaza, was designed by the architect J. Crouwel and completed in 1924. The barrel-vaulted ceiling is made up of glazed yellow-brick ribs alternated with diagonal glass panes that fill the hall with natural light. The black-and-white floor is set off by five carved black statues set in the walls, each representing a continent. America is a stylized American Indian with two buffalo at his feet. Over the main entrance are magnificent stained glass windows. It is being renovated to accommodate the library, shops, a food market and a bicycle parking.

Minnaertgebouw - Minnaert-building on the Uithof university campus

• De Uithof - campus of the Utrecht University | - GPS: 52.086389, 5.1725 - Uithof - It is a rather strange mix between grey concrete buildings and buildings here that are designed by famous modern architects, like the Educatorium designed by Rem Koolhaas and the University Library and the Minnaert building. There is also a beautiful botanical garden that is 8 acres big, houses 6 thousand different sorts of plants and a Napoleonic fort. Also worth a look: the bicycle track at the Heidelberglaan which is broad enough to function as a two-way car-track. The university campus can be visited from the Central Station by taking the Line 11 or 12 bi-articulated buses, an experience on its own.
• De Inktpot - GPS: 52.087317, 5.114967 - Utrecht de inktpot september 2003 A notable building with a flying saucer ([[w:UFO|UFO) on its roof. The saucer is a remnant of the Utrecht art exhibition Panorama 2000, designed by Marc Ruygrok.
• Paushuize - Pope's house Kromme Nieuwegracht 49 GPS: 52.09033, 5.12424 ☎ | Born in Utrecht, w:Pope Adrian VI|Adrianus VI and the sole Dutch pope and the last non-Italian pope until John Paul II, had this house constructed in 1517. It is used for congresses, weddings and group dinners.

Museums

Netherlands#Museumkaart|Museumkaart is accepted at the city's museums.

• Centraal Museum - Nicolaaskerkhof 10 GPS: 52.083333, 5.125833 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11:00-17:00 €9 Centraal Museum Exterieur Centraal Museum - The oldest municipal museum in the Netherlands. It has a large art collection including the world’s largest collection of Rietveld designs and a permanent exhibition on Dick Bruna. There are usually several temporary exhibitions, an overview of which you can find at their site.
• Museum Catharijneconvent - Lange Nieuwstraat 38 GPS: 52.087222, 5.124167 Opening Hours: 11:00-17:00 €11.50 Museum Catharijneconvent Catharijneconvent Utrecht A large collection of historic Christian items.
• Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum - GPS: 52.087222, 5.131389 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10:00-17:00 €14.50 Railway Museum (Netherlands) Spoorwegmuseum Utrecht 003 - The Dutch Railway Museum. It reopened in June 2005 after a intensive renovation. It is feasible to go directly to the Spoorwegmuseum from centraal station with a special train.
• Nationaal Museum van Speelklok tot Pierement - Speelklok Museum - 52.090292, 5.118899 - Museum Speelklok Buurkerk en Dom A surprisingly pleasant museum on all kinds of mechanical music, including carillon clocks, musical boxes, pianolas and belly organs.
• Universiteitsmuseum - Lange Nieuwstraat 106 GPS: 52.0849, 5.12571 ☎ +31 30 253 80 08 | Opening Hours: 10:00-17:00 €8 Entrance of Universiteitsmuseum Utrecht the museum of the Utrecht University.

• Oude Hortus - Botanical Garden - GPS: 52.084722, 5.126389 - Utrecht hortus

Windmills

• Houtzaagmolen De Ster - Wind mill & saw mill Molenpark 8 GPS: 52.0897, 5.1006 ☎+31 30 294 2553 | Opening Hours: Saturday 13:00 to 16:00 Free lal-tours/ tours on Saturday afternoons This windmill and sawmill installation was built in 1721 along the waterway called Leidsche Vaart, and was renovated in 1998.
• Molen Rijn en Zon - Biologische Slagerij De Molen Adelaarstraat 30 GPS: 52.0993, 5.1155 at Merelstraat | Opening Hours: This windmill was built in 1913, retired in 1949 after a storm and restored 1977-1978; it was used for grinding corn (korenmolen). Today the ground floor is used as a butcher's shop (slagerij) offering organic products.

What to do in Utrecht

• Have a drink at one of the terraces at the lower docks of Oudegracht
• Climb the Dom tower, a full 112 meters high. You can climb to near the top.
• Take a tour with a boat through the canals
• Take a bicycle tour through the old downtown
• Find out the stories behind the buildings in a free tour
• Rent a canal bike and pedal your own way around the canals.
• Try a locally brewed organic juice at Stadskasteel Oudaen, which is a 13th-century city castle turned restaurant.
• Watch football ie soccer at FC Utrecht, who play in Eredivisie and the top tier of Dutch football. Their home ground is Stadion Galgenwaard (capacity 23,750), 2 kilometers southeast of downtown.

Parks

The GPS 52.087128,5.140228 Wilhelminapark, GPS 52.089386,5.128437 Park Lepelenburg and the GPS 52.106294,5.087550 Julianapark are nice places to chill out in summer.

Theatres

• Stadsschouwburg - City Theatre | Lucasbolwerk 24 GPS: 52.09306, 5.12722 - StadsschUtrecht The building is a city landmark. It was designed in 1937 by the famous architect Willem Dudok. Almost all theatre performances are in Dutch, but there are also dance and music performances. There are two halls inside the Stadsschouwburg and the Douwe Egberts Zaal (Douwe Egberts Hall) and the Blauwe Zaal (Blue Hall). Students can buy tickets 30 minutes before the start of a show for a reduced fee (€9 for shows in the Douwe Egberts zaal, €7 for shows in the Blauwe Zaal), provided the show is not sold out yet.

}}- Theater Kikker | Ganzenmarkt 14 GPS: 52.092233, 5.119181 close to the City Hall - A small theatre. Every month they have a Kikker Koopje, a performance by beginning artists for €7 .

Cinemas

Overzicht - Utrecht - 20329952 - RCE - Louis Hartlooper Complex]]

Watch a movie at one of many cinemas. With the exception of some animated movies (and even those are usually available in the original language as well), all movies are subtitled and not dubbed, so you should be able to enjoy all the standard Hollywood fare in the original English. As any large city, Utrecht has its share of cinemas showing Hollywood movies:

• Pathé Rembrandt Utrecht - Oudegracht 73 GPS: 52.093939, 5.116262 on the route from the Central Station to Neude. One large and two small theatre rooms. This cinema, or at least the main theatre room, is considered most pleasant, of the chain cinemas in the city.

Pathé Utrecht Leidsche Rijn Berlijnplein 100 GPS 52.09671,5.07044. Also known by its former name CineMec, this is the larger but also more remote location of the two Pathé cinemas in Utrecht. Although located farther away from the downtown, this location has more rooms and better sounds than Pathé Rembrandt.

• Kinepolis Jaarbeurs Utrecht Jaarbeursboulevard 300 GPS 52.08647,5.10487 ☎ +31 30 2003000 . Part of the Kinepolis chain of cinemas, this is a massive building with 14 rooms totalling 3200 seats. It is located right next to the Central Station (though not on the side of the downtown). Most blockbuster movies will be on display here.

More interesting are the three independent cinemas and these specialize in art house movies and also are ideal places to get a drink or have dinner:

• Filmtheater 't Hoogt | Hoogt 4 GPS: 52.0931, 5.1198 between Neude and Janskerkhof ☎ +31 30 231 2216 +31 30-2312940
• Louis Hartlooper Complex | Tolsteegbrug 1 GPS: 52.08178, 5.124185 all the way down the Oudegracht ☎ +31 30 232 0450 +31 30 232 04 51 - Film and culture centre, housed in a former police station.
• Springhaver | Springweg 50 GPS: 52.088168, 5.119158 between the Central Station and the Oudegracht ☎ +31 30 231 3789 +31 30 231 0968

Festivals

• Visit the Gaudeamus Muziekweek .This is the internationally celebrated annual festival for young composers and new music. Apart from the annual festival they also organize a monthly series of new, contemporary music.
• The yearly Utrecht Festival of Old Music, called Festival Oude Muziek, late August to early September, brings to Utrecht some of the best artists in the world of authentic performance, but reserves some space for future talent as well. Concerts of all sizes are scattered over some of the city's most beautiful churches, with major performances held at Vredenburg Leidsche Rijn and the old Dom Church and a nice central lounge. There are over 60 free 'fringe' concerts and a set student price of €7.
• Visit the Parade, a yearly open air summer festival with theatre, comedy, dance, music and other attractions. De Parade is a traveling festival that visits Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam and the Hague every summer.

• Koningsdag (Kingsday) - GPS: - Koningsdag Amsterdam's Canals - Visit the festivities for the Dutch royal house on 26 April 18:00 till 27 April 18:00 in the downtown (dress code is bright orange).
• Netherlands Film Festival - Netherlands Film Festival Neude at night - Usually in the 2nd half of September. For ten days, Utrecht is the Mekka of the Dutch film.

• In November every year the indie rock festival, Le Guess Who, takes place in Tivoli Oude Gracht, Tivoli De Helling, Ekko, DBs and other locations.

Learn

• {{Learn Utrecht University GPS , Universiteit Utrecht +31 30 253 35 50|tollfree=|fax= @|hours= - Utrecht University =Πανεπιστήμιο Ουτρέχτης 7092.jpg. Having just celebrated its 375th anniversary, it has developed into one of Europe’s largest and most prominent institutes of research and education. With 49 Bachelor’s programms and 109 Master’s programms in English, Utrecht University offers the broadest spectrum of English language disciplines available in the Netherlands and innovative research and liaises with universities and research centres all over the world. It has been ranked the Best University in the Netherlands and the 4th best University in Europe, and the 39th best in the world. Utrecht University has been home to many prominent academics, among whom Buys Ballot, Donders, Rudolf Magnus, Van Unnik and Freudenthal. Nobel Prize Winner Gerard ’t Hooft (1999) is affiliated to the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy. -
• {{Learn HU University of Applied Sciences GPS 52.0840454,5.1701845 Hogeschool Utrecht Padualaan 101, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands ☎ +31 88 481 81 81|tollfree=|fax= @|hours= - HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht - Hogeschool Utrecht in de zon.jpg. -
• {{Learn University of Humanistic Studies GPS , Universiteit voor Humanistiek Kromme Nieuwegracht 29, 3512 HD Utrecht, The Netherlands ☎ +31 (30) 239 01 00|tollfree=|fax= @|hours= - University of Humanistic Studies - University of Humanistic Studie, Utrecht, The Netherlands.jpeg. -

How to work legally in Utrecht

A ton of service positions exist in the ancient downtown. However and they usually have low wages and require fluent Dutch.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Utrecht

Most shops are in the downtown, concentrated around the Oudegracht, Vredeburg and Neude. There is also a large shopping centre extending east from the downtown in the direction of the Wilhelminapark. For general shop info and their openings hours you can visit openingstijden.nl it shows an overview of the most popular shops.

• Hoog Catharijne - . A large indoor shopping area next to Utrecht Centraal Station and the main train station of Utrecht.

• Books. broese/ Broese is a large bookstore at Stadhuisbrug 5. They have a fair selection of English books. Bijleveld at the Janskerkhof is an old bookstore with beautiful wooden show windows.
• Music. Plato at Voorstraat 35 has a fair selection at reasonable prices. Boudisque at the Drieharingenstraat (near Vredenburg) the largest record store in Utrecht. Jazz, Classical music, Pop music and DVDs all have their own store. Near the Vredenburg the Revenge has a fair selection of vinyl, focusing on electronic music.
• Markets. On Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays there is a large open air market on the Vredenburg square. On Saturdays you can find a plant market on the Janskerkhof and a flower market on the Oudegracht. The Breedstraat houses a large fabric market (lapjesmarkt) on Saturday mornings (09:00-13:00).
• At Stationsplein 7 there is a give-away shop, open Tuesday 14:00-18:00 and Saturday 14:00-17:00.

• El Beso - At Nobelstraat there is an excellent wine, life and style shop, called El Beso (Spanish for Kiss). On Saturdays you can just walk in and try a wine, no buying obligations. International crowd.

• Cannabis. Sarasani, opened in 1968, was the oldest coffee shop in the Netherlands. Located at Oudegracht 327 a/d werf, which means it was on the canal level, and sat under the main street. Sarisani closed down in 2007. On Wednesdays and Saturdays Joepi makes a round through the center of Utrecht to deliver food and beverages with a little ‘extra’, mainly psychedelics, cannabis and energetic herbs.

Geek gear

There are half a dozen stores at the part of the Oudegracht (Old Canal) south of De Dom that sell board games, card games, wargames, roleplaying games, fantasy and science-fiction books and/or comics (e.g. Piet Snot, Elf Fantasy and the Joker and Neverneverland). Keep your eyes peeled; some of these stores are easy to miss.

• Blunder has a large collection of “mainstream comics” on street level and an even bigger collection of the newest American comics and Manga/Anime in the basem*nt. The address is Oudegracht 203.
• Piet Snot is a normal comic shop. They also have a big collection of second hand comics. Vismarkt 3 (It’s a small part of the Oudegracht that for some dark reason has been given a different name...)
• Strip & Lectuurshop. Lots of comics located at Oudegracht 194
• Labyrinth is all about fantasy games. They have furniture, weapons, clothing, jewelry and lots of roleplaying books. It is at Oudegracht 207. The Joker. Games, games and more games. From your normal family games to the German type games and the American wargames and everything in between. They also have lots of collectible card games and scenariobooks for RPGs. In the basem*nt it’s feasible to play the games. It is located at Oudegracht 230a.
• Neverneverland, like The Joker, has a large selection of boardgames and RPGs. It is located at Oudegracht 202.
• Subcultures is well... about subcultures, next to being a regular game shop. Specialized in miniature wargames, RPGs and designer toys. The address is Oude Gracht 183.

Halal Restaurants in Utrecht

Many restaurants can be found in the downtown. Especially near the canals there is a huge choice of places to eat, each with their own style of kitchen, like Italian, Thai, and American. Ask the local residents for which places are recommended as not every restaurant offers the same quality.

• There are several Flemish snack bars outside of Hoog Catharijne that sell wonderful thick fries with mayonnaise. Try it; it’s not as bad as John Travolta’s character seems to think in Pulp Fiction.

• ACU - Voorstraat 71 GPS: Around €10 for a main course - In this squatters cafe affordable but delicious vegan food is served on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
• Bigoli | Schoutenstraat 12 GPS: €3-5 Serves delicious Italian sandwiches. Be prepared to wait in line at lunch time though.

• To try something Dutch visit one of the snackbars and order a Kroket. A good one is behind City Hall, it is called Broodje Plof. A lot of Dutch people visit this place after a good night of binge drinking.

Dimitri Petit Sirtaki II Servetstraat 4 GPS 52.0905471,5.1207072 About €6 for a well-stuffed pita.. Take-away related to Greek restaurant "Sirtaki" located opposite it.

• Food and the City - @recht.nl Voorstraat 30 GPS: 52.0945242, 5.1194984 ☎ +31 30 2683924 - Opening from Monday to Saturday 14:30-21:30 Around €6 for a well-filled vegetarian pita, around €11 for a hearty strudel - Hip Mediterranean take-away.
• Mario | Oudegracht 130-132 GPS: €3 This place sells Italian rolls in Utrecht, simply called Broodje Mario. They are famous among people from Utrecht; there's even a rap song about it by the local band Stropstrikkers.

• For a more multi-ethnic view of Utrecht, walk away from the old city from the bus station/central station, walk under the train tracks, and follow the bus route (straight ahead) about 200 meters. Try some affordable rotisserie style chicken on the left side of the Kanaalstraat, get a Moroccan style bagel across the street at one of the many middle eastern bakeries, and stock up on way-affordable (the cheapest in Utrecht) fruit and veggies at one of the many produce markets.

• Cafe 't College | Mariastraat Close to the dom ☎ +31 30 2319136 | Opening Hours: Monday 10:00-19:00, Tuesday - Thursday 10:00-01:00, Friday Saturday 11:00-14:00, Sunday 12:00-19:00 main: €14 Cozy jazz-blues restaurant with good simple food: -halal-food/steaks/ steaks, salads, sate. The kitchen closes at 21:00, but you can get bitterballen, spring rolls, etc. after that.

• Stadskasteel Oudaen, at Oudegracht 99, is a 13th-century city castle turned restaurant.

• Broadway | Oudegracht aan de werf 139 ☎ +31 30 2312643 - Mains €15–20 - An excellent spare ribs restaurant.
• El Greco | Ganzenmarkt 28 GPS: 52.092442, 5.119937 - This Greek snack bar serves some of the best pita gyros sandwiches in Utrecht.

• For affordable tapas go to El Mundo at Voorstraat or Mimadre at Oudkerkhof.

• Humphreys | Stadhuisbrug 3 GPS: €24.95 for three-course meal (fixed) Under the city hall, on the Oudegracht. The restaurant is marked by a sign and menu. The entrance is tiny and under the stairs, but the restaurant is huge with multiple halls each in their own retro style. Modern Dutch cuisine with a fixed price for a three-course meal.
• Indonesia Asli | Biltstraat 56-58 Opening from Monday to Saturday 12:00-20:00 €7-11Authentic (i.e., spicy) Indonesian restaurant and take-away.
• LE:EN | Heuveloord 140 GPS: - Best described as Asian tapas, LE:EN (pronounced "lain") is a bit of a walk from the center, and it's not the cheapest in town, but a lot of local residents think it's worth it anyway!
• Luce | Visschersplein 75 ☎ +31 30 2333008 A hip and trendy restaurant. Very trendy atmosphere with exclusive and delicious food.
• Meneer Smakers | Nobelstraat 143 GPS: - This small burger joint is by far the best in town, serving ten different burgers and delicious home-made fries.

De Ontdekking Voorstraat 110 GPS 52.0952358,5.1232246 opposite the "City" cinema ☎ +31 30 751 47 19 - Hours: Monday to Friday 08:00-18:00, Saturday Sunday 09:00-18:00 - About €8 for breakfast, €9 for a warm lunch. Salad €8.50, soup €6.50, sandwich about €7. Many vegetarian and vegan options, dishes and decor inspired by the travel agency that used to be in this building (i.e. by countries all over the world).

• De Oude Muntkelder - Oude Gracht a/d Werf 112 GPS: 52.09294, 5.11712 ☎ +31 30 231-6773 | Opening Hours: Daily 12:00-21:00 €10-15 Traditional Dutch pancake restaurant. They have a lovely setting beside the small canal. They have a wide varieties of pancakes, even quirky ones like the Norwegian pancake. On Mondays and Tuesdays all-you-can-eat pancakes for students for only €9.75 (valid student card required).

Luxury

• WT Urban Kitchen - Watertoren Utrecht | Heuveloord 25A GPS: 52.0754973, 5.1207862 ☎ +31 30 303 1216 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 17:30-0:00, Saturday Sunday 12:00-0:00 €39 for a 4-course menu, €44 for a 5-course menu, €49 for a 6-course menu - Located at the top of a water tower, this restaurants serves delicious food with an amazing view.

• Karel 5 @.nl Geertebolwerk 1 GPS 52.0880011,5.1186737 ☎ +31 30 233 7555 - Hours: Monday to Saturday 18:00-22:00 - €72 for a 5-course meal. Restaurant of hotel Karel V.}}

As the population of Utrecht contains a lot of students, naturally there are a lot of places where you can spend the day or night having some drinks and a dance. Most are in the downtown. Main hubs for drinks are Neude, Janskerkhof, Mariaplaats and Ledig Erf.

Drinks

• The terraces at Neude, Janskerkhof or Ledig Erf
• The lower docks near the canal Oudegracht
• The cafe's at the street Lucasbolwerk
• Stairway to Heaven is a large rockcafe at Mariaplaats 11-12.
• Olivier at the Achter Clarenburg. A Belgian cafe with some thirty beers. Located in an old church.
• Theatercafé De Bastaard, Jansveld 17. Students, artists and the occasional local celebrity. There is a swimming swimmingpool table in the back.
• Jan Primus, Jan van Scorelstraat 27 - 31. It’s a little out of the centre of the city near the Wilhelmina Park. No music, no slot machine, no nothing. Just 160 beers. 10 draught and 150 bottled.

Café De Zaak @recht.nl Korte Minrebroederstraat 9, Utrecht GPS 52.0921054,5.1202792 ☎ +31 30 231 53 10 . Lovely terrace, and you're allowed to bring your own food.

Along the Oudegracht

The Oudegracht is home to a lot of cafes, both in- and outdoors, and both at street and at water level. From north to south:

• Stadskasteel Oudaen | Oudegracht 99 ☎ +31 30 231 1864 A 13th-century city castle turned restaurant. They have their own theatre and more importantly their own brewery, where they brew the local beers Ouwe Daen, Jonge Daen en Linteloo Gold. Highly recommended.
• De Witte Ballons | Lijnmarkt 12 On the west side of Oudegracht, halfway the downtown. From the Domplein, walk under the Domtoren, straight ahead, over the Oudegracht, first left, on your left after 20 metres ☎ +31 30-2311056 is a small and cosy café
• Café België | Oudegracht 196 ☎ +31 30 231 2666 It has good music and a selection of 198 different beers of which 20 are draught. Also serve nice food for a reasonable price. Try the Celis White if you like white organic juice and try the Trock Banaan if you want to try a organic juice that tastes just like the banana sweets you probably ate when you were a kid (most likely you are going to get a question from the bartender like “Are you sure you want to have this?”).
• Ledig Erf | Tolsteegbrug 3 located at the very south tip of the Oudegracht ☎ +31 30 231 7577 At the south end of the Oudegracht has a large outdoor seating area which is packed whenever the sun is shining.

Nightlife

• The clubs near the square Janskerkhof provide a great dancing opportunity for young people ('t Pakhuis, Hofman).
• The clubs at the street Oudkerkhof provide a great dancing opportunity for everyone (Dikke Dries).
• Other cafes, recommended for students, are Beurs (at Neude), Zussen and Hemmingway (near Janskerkhof).
• The main venue for pop concerts and for dancing are TivoliVredenburg, De Helling, Ekko, Kargadoor, De Vloer and DBs (close to the train station Zuilen).
• Techno fans can visit BASIS].

• ACU - Voorstraat 71 ☎ +31 30-2314590 This is a smaller, more intimate venue and political-cultural centre. They host a large variety of things, such as a small cinema (smoking allowed), art exhibitions, cafe literature, concerts, disco, events, and they serve vegan food every Tuesday to Saterday.
• 't Oude Pothuys | Oudegracht 279 On the west side of Oudegracht, a bit south of the downtown ☎ +31 30-2318970 A cafe in a basem*nt, with live music almost every night.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Utrecht

Utrecht - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Utrecht, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Utrecht. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Utrecht and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Utrecht. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Utrecht. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inUtrecht: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Utrecht.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Utrecht: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Utrecht, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Utrecht.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Utrecht, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Utrecht, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Utrecht and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Utrecht, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Utrecht, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Utrecht without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Utrecht is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Utrecht.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Utrecht is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Utrecht, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Utrecht Media: info@ehalal.io

Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in Utrecht

eHalal Group Utrecht is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Utrecht. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in Utrecht.

At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Utrecht ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Utrecht. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in Utrecht, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

For those seeking luxury and exclusivity, our luxury villas in Utrecht are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Starting at US$ 1.5 million and these villas offer a lavish lifestyle with private amenities, breathtaking views, and meticulous attention to detail. Each luxury villa is meticulously designed to provide a serene and halal environment, allowing you to enjoy the finest living experience while adhering to your Islamic principles. For further details please email us at realestate@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly hotels in Utrecht

Utrecht, like any big town, has its fair share of business hotels of the big chains.

• Hostel Strowis - Boothstraat 8 ☎ +31 30 2380280 - From €20 for a 16-bed dorm Hostel run by a group of clever ex-squatters who bought their building to start this initiative. The best and most homely hostel in Utrecht. A choice of 4-, 6-, 8-,or 16-bed dorms, free internet and a relaxing shaded garden area. Free cold showers.
• Hostel B&B Utrecht | Lucas Bolwerk 4 ☎ +31 650434884 - from €25 Checkout: 12:00 Bizarre hostel. Main room dominated by television and individuals sitting at computers. Free internet (when it works), free food (you cook on your own!), sometimes free beer. Showers take half an hour to warm up in the morning. 10-min walk from the Central Station.
• Stayokay Bunnik - - GPS: From €20 for a 10-bed dorm - Admittedly in a very nice area, this hostel is overpriced, but not so much as other hostels in the Utrecht area. 10 kilometers from Utrecht in Rhijnauwen. Somewhat accessible by bus.

The city's campsite (De Berekuil, on the east side of the city) has been a huge mess for a couple years now, and it is uncertain what will happen to it in the future. There are few other campsites, though some farmers also have small scale camping on their land. For instance Camping de Boomgaard, 8km from Utrecht city.

Mid-range

• Bed & Breakfast de Buitenhof | Enghlaan 4 ☎ +31 30 6774526 - €80-95
• NH Utrecht | Jaarbeursplein, 24 ☎ +31 30 2977977 - From €99 Nestled away in a quiet area, close to center and the Jaarbeurs Convention Center. Meeting rooms available.
• Hotel Oorsprongpark | F.C. Dondersstraat 12 ☎ +31 30 271 63 03 +31 30 271 46 19single room: €100, double €115
• Park Plaza Utrecht | Westplein 50 ☎ +31 30 29 25 200 +31 30 29 25 199 Great location (downtown), modern style with nice meeting rooms overlooking Utrecht.
• bnb Utrecht Tussen Molen en Munt - bnb Utrecht Between Mill and Mint | bnb-utrecht-@ Leidseweg 71, 3531 BE Utrecht/NL GPS: 52.08827, 5.09813 Central Railway Station & motorway A2 ☎ +31 6 5125 8669 - From €95 bnb/large apartment in a merchant's house from 1904 along the Old Rhine. Historic part of Utrecht. Centre and Central Railway Station short walk away. Motorway A2 nearby.

• Grand Hotel Karel V | Geertebolwerk 1 ☎ +31 30 233 75 55 +31 30 233 75 00

Telecommunications in Utrecht

Internet

• Free wifi is available at the whole downtown and some parks and shopping areas outside the centre (Griftpark, Julianapark, Wilhelminapark, Beatrixpark, Maximapark, Burg. Reigerstraat and Nachtegaalstraat, Adriaen van Ostadelaan etc.)
• Half an hour of free Wi-Fi is available at the nd Starbucks (Please do not support Starbucks as Starbucks supports Israel. Shun this coffee and go for alternative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned brand.) in the Central Station, and possibly outside as well.
• It is also feasible to get access to the internet in the public library which is situated at Oudegracht 167.
• At the Coffee Company (Vismarkt 5) you get free WiFi access with your coffee.
• Wzzrd is at Vismarkt 21 and open daily from 12:00 to 23:00 and Friday and Saturday until 01:00.
• Some Internet browsing centers are available on Kanaalstraat for affordable prices (€1.5 per hour). It is a 10-minutes walk from Utrecht Central Station.

Stay safe as a Muslim in Utrecht

Utrecht as a student city is quite safe, although there are some neighbourhoods in the outskirts that you probably don't want to visit. As always, don’t flash your wallet at markets and have a natural caution for pickpockets in the downtown. Unfortunately, bike thefts are a common nuisance, so if you travel by bike, make sure you have good locks and park your bike at a bike parking spots. Parking your bike in the downtown is easy as Utrecht has it own bike parking route. Parking lots for bikes are located under the Vredenburg (entrance between Zara and The Sting) and the Neude (Neudeflat), Zadelstraat, under the City Hall, under the stairs at the Stationsplein West or the Jaarbeursplein.

You are unlikely to have any business in the lower-income and immigrant neighbourhoods such as Kanaleneiland and Overvecht south-west and north of the downtown. While serious crime rarely takes place and they are best avoided unless you want to tempt fate. If for some reason you do end up in these neighbourhoods it is strongly advised to keep your mobile phone and camera concealed. The youth in this area is known to act aggressively if they suspect they are being filmed or photographed.

News & References Utrecht

Explore more Halal friendly Destinations from Utrecht

• Huis Doorn - GPS: 52.031426, 5.338733 town of Doorn; take train to Driebergen-Zeist and then bus 50 to Centre Doorn and bus 56 to Huis Doorn Opening Hours: W-F 13:00-17:00, Saturday Sunday 12:00-17:00 Museum €12; Pavilion €6; Museum & Pavilion €15 - The last residence of Wilhelm II and the last German Emperor who was deposed following World War I and waited in his exile for a restoration of monarchy that never came.
• Kasteel de Haar - Castle De Haar - GPS: 52.121395, 4.986205 at Haarzuilens village, take the train to Vleuten and then bus 111 to Kasteel de Haar Opening Hours: 10:00-17:00 (last admittance 16:00); Guided bedroom lal-tours/ tours start Castle €14.00; + bedroom tour €17.50; park only €4
• Amersfoort has a medieval centre, and is a fifteen-minutes train ride from Utrecht.
• 's-Hertogenbosch (commonly known as Den Bosch) has a preserved medieval centre, and is a half-hour train ride from Utrecht.
• Vechtstreek — a region along the river Vecht famous for its magnificent 17th and 18th-century estates
• Soest (Netherlands) — home to the biggest dune area in Utrecht
• Soesterberg — home to the Dutch national air force museum
• Wijk bij Duurstede — a typically old Dutch town on the Rhine river; dikes galore!
• Rhenen — played a key-role in the World War II Grebbelinie defense. Beautiful forests and a great zoo
• Rhijnauwen — take a walk in the forests between the Uithof and Bunnik

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