Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands, known for its canals and historic center with buildings dating back to the Middle Ages. The city is also an important transportation and economic center, cultural hub and home to the country’s largest university. There is absolutely wonderful running in Utrecht, with its many km of canal paths, beautiful parks, green countryside, and routes around forts and castles.
A great way to get started running in Utrecht is to take our ‘runseeing‘ tour, exploring the Oudegracht canal and city centre. For those who love canal-side running, there are nice paths along the Vecht and Rijnkanaal. Probably the best place to run in Utrecht is in the area around Fort Rhijnauwen, which can be combined with the National Forest Trails and other nearby parks. Máximapark, the largest park in the Netherlands, is terrific for running. For a classic European castle run, explore the 135 acres of grounds at Castle De Haar. Trail runners will love the massive Heuvelrug National Park, where there’s something for everyone. For neighborhood running, we love Wittevrouwen and Oudwijk near the centre, anchored by Wilhelminapark.
For transport, there’s a good bus and light rail (tram) system. Also, the network of cycle tracks is extensive.
