After my morning exploring Helmond we boarded the coach and left for Utrecht. The afternoon in Utrecht was part of the André Rieu concert trip organised by Newmarket Holidays.
Day 3: Monday 14th July 2025: Utrecht, The Netherlands
Once out of Helmond the canal was used for pleasure and we passed boats in a small marina area.
This street art was along walls at the side of a junction on the motorway to Utrecht.
We left the coach at the side of the canal on Catharijnesingel and next to the Hoog Catharijne shopping center. There was a canal available and we followed our tour manager into the mall to the booking office. We booked on the 4 pm trip. This would return us to the mall at around 5 pm when we were scheduled to be leaving.
Bagels and Beans
It was after 2 pm and it was definitely time for lunch. Just past the booking office that doubled as a gift shop was a branch of Bagels and Beans.
They had an amazing selection of bagels and fillings. A simply wonderful meal served by cheerful guys. Highly recommend if you ever see a branch in The Netherlands.
Going the wrong way
After leaving we turned left under the mall – this as it turned out was the wrong way for a walk around the canal and to the Dom Tower. As we walked along I saw a lady on her bicycle hit a kerb and went over the handlebars. This was on the opposite of the road. By the time I had crossed she was being helped up by 3 or 4 people. I looked up and there was a police car passing by. I flagged it down and explained to the officers about the lady behind us. By now the extent of dome of injuries were obvious as he face was covered in blood.
I hadn’t realised that I was now standing in the cycle track and as I turned I was hit by a another lady on a bicycle. Entirely my fault as I should have been aware of where I was! She was incredibly apologetic and wanted to make sure I was OK. I explained it was my fault and that I was OK – cycle tracks in The Netherlands are definitely not for pedestrians!
After walking in for ten or minutes around the mall we realised that had to had back and to cross back over Catharijnesinge and head down Mariaplaats.
Walking around the canal
We were lucky and came across a branch of Normal. I had a cut on my arm after my earlier collision with the bike and first aid plasters were needed urgently!
On the dock below the mall
The boat for the trip around the canal left from a dock below the shopping mall. Looking up from dock we could see through the glass floor of the walkways around the fountain in the mall above us.
While we waited we watched these boats past by. Or, not as the guy in the electric boat was just waiting for his mate to came back with his shopping.
Canal boat trip around Utrecht
The boat was electric and we had a multilingual recorded guide as we went around the canal. This part of the canal had been filled in to become a road! Then it was turned back into a canal again.
This is the restored (?) crane that was driven by children on a treadmill!
The canal originally had warehouses of merchants lining the banks. These have been restored too.
The smallest house in Utrecht.
Wood working…
Oudegracht alongside the canal in Utrecht
This park alongside the canal was laid out like a traditional English park.
The tea pot!
Back at the dock…
Looking through the glass tiles in the fountain in the mall to the boat below.
Back on the coach
We were on the coach well before the designated leaving time. While we waited I experimented with the experimental Adobe iPhone camera app, Project Indigo.
The 10x option was very impressive,
After 15 minutes my battery had drained alarmingly and the phone was getting too hot to hold!
The journey back to Helmond went without a hitch. I remained impressed by the driver navigating the roundabouts that had the lanes separated by kerbs! As well as being very small.
Once back in the hotel we had a rest before going out to explore and find somewhere to eat.
The next day we would stop in Antwerp before catching the Eurostar back to London from Brussels.
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