Discovering things to do in nijmegen
Join me while I rediscover my hometown with timetomomo!
I’ve always loved exploring new places. Ever since I was young I dreamed of exploring different corners of the world, going on adventures and experiencing new things. I always imagined I would be doing this in far-flung corners of the world, until some recent events forced me to move back to my home town and I had to discover new things to do in Nijmegen.
Now for some people this might not be so terrible, but to me it was like a punch in the gut. You could say, without sounding too melodramatic, that I did not have the best time growing up here. Ever since graduating high school I was determined to get out and never look back. But as life would have it, I found myself back here. However, I am determined to make the most of it! That is why I looked to timetomomo for a fresh perspective.
Timetomomo is an amazing platform that offers you walking routes through different cities. These walking routes are filled with the city’s highlights and best-kept secrets, recommended by locals. It is a truly unique way to experience a city through the eyes of a local. I’d previously used their app when I went on a solo trip to Copenhagen and had the best time exploring with them, so I was eager to see Nijmegen through their lens. And so I chose a walking route through the city centre and pinpointed a few spots that I wanted to check out.
Ready to (re-)discover my home town with me? Let’s go!
FIKA
It was a Sunday morning when I started my route. The city was still quiet and the sun was shining. A mere 10-15 minute walk from the central station brought me to FIKA. Fika is a Swedish term and means something along the lines of taking some time for each other accompanied by good food and/or drinks. I can tell you that FIKA embodies this Swedish concept like no other. The staff was incredibly friendly and while there were normal tables, there were also sofas and other cute places to sit.
The main concept in this restaurant is that they serve smorrebrod. Something I really liked was the serving size indicated on the menu. Snack time? Choose 1 smorrebrod. Full lunch? Take 2. Very hungry? Get 3! I opted for 1 because I knew I had a few other food spots planned on my route. I wanted the full experience of the Swedish concept and so I choose a smorrebrod with a traditional Swedish shrimp salad. On top of everything else, the food was also delicious. Definitely recommend for a chill breakfast and/or lunch!
Boekhandel Roelants
Anyone who knows anything about me, knows I love reading. So naturally, after breakfast it was time to visit the first bookstore on my list. One I had actually never been to before and I was so pleasantly surprised. Boekhandel Roelants has over 10.000 books, good prices and discounts and multiple floors for you to wander. And for my international people or someone like myself who prefers to read in English, yes they also have quite a large English section! After wandering around a bit one of the employees came up to ask if I needed some help. I told him that I wanted to read more classics but couldn’t choose where to start and he was immediately excited to help me. After asking me a few questions about what I normally liked to read he recommended me ‘Wuthering Heights’ by Emily Bronte. Bookstores are all over the place, but the staff’s dedication to providing personalized recommendations is what made this store truly special to me.
Dekker v.d. Vegt
Now this is a book store I’ve been visiting for ages. Dekker v.d. Vegt is a place that I visit every time I’m in the area. A trip to Nijmegen is truly not complete without setting foot in here. The book selection is amazing, there is huge variety, a great English selection and incredible staff picks throughout the store. If you are looking for a bit more of a modern book store compared to the last one, this is the one you want to go to. They even have their own little café in store where you can sit and enjoy your book with a good cup of coffee. The only downside, because this is a bigger and more commercial book store it lacks the personal touch Boekhandel Roelants. But other than that, this is one of my favourite places to visit in Nijmegen and therefore I could not leave it out of my route.
Huis van de Nijmeegse geschiedenis
This was perhaps the most surprising discovery of the day. The house of Nijmeegse history is located in the Mariënburg chapel, one of the oldest buildings in the city and unveils the building’s rich history. In the time I visited (October 2023), this place hosted two expositions. One about the building itself. It has been standing exactly where it is since 1431, a fact so astounding to me that I still can’t quite believe it. The exposition talks about all the roles this place has fulfilled in its time and how it has survived despite fires, wars, bombings and other terrible things that should have destroyed it. Just to stand in such a piece of history was a truly special feeling.
The second exposition is where my view of the city started to shift. Here, locals made statements of their favourite places in the city and why Nijmegen is so incredible to them. These statements were accompanied by beautiful photographs that made me fall in love with the city all over again. At the end of the exposition there was a tree with little notes where guests could leave their opinion of Nijmegen. Here’s what I wrote: ‘After having lived here for years, I came back to rediscover the city. I can’t believe that I’m only now realizing how special this place is.’
Hotel Credible
It was early afternoon now and after a nice little walk through the city centre I took a brief break at Hotel Credible. Honestly, how could you not with an exterior like that. I enjoyed a beer in the sun, had some quality reading time and then decided to move on.
Valkhof park
I was actually to planning to make a stop at Valkhof museum before this, but unfortunately that was closed for construction. So if you’re planning to visit soon, please check if they are open beforehand! After this slight disappointment I decided to take a stroll through valkhof park. Now keep in mind, this park is not big in size but it is very picturesque. There are some ruins that you can check out, you can chill in the grass and people watch or enjoy the stunning views of the river. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a spot to have a little break after all your exploring!
Grote markt
The market square is a quintessential Nijmegen sight. The old buildings around the square are absolutely beautiful and this place is always buzzing with life. There are a lot of restaurants and places to sit in the sun and have a drink if you want. But otherwise, you could just stand and admire the place for a few minutes. It’s spectacular.
Downtown
For a late lunch I made a stop at Downtown, just behind the market square. I had heard lots about this place from some friends so I was excited to check it out. The place is quite small, but incredibly cozy. With interior of white, wood and lots of plants that make you feel right at home. Unfortunately at this time, my phone battery was hanging on by a thread and so I had to charge it and have no photo of my food or the place. Pro tip: if you’re going to do a timetomomo route make sure you bring a power bank as navigating from your phone all day can drain your battery quite fast!
Back to the lunch spot. I ordered the French toast and it was incredible! Also good to point out, very reasonably priced for the quality you get. I really enjoyed sitting here for a bit and also saw some people in the place with their laptops. So I imagine that it’s an excellent spot for work or study too!
Make my day
After lunch I made my way to Make my day, another place I’ve been coming to on and off for a few years. Make my day is a concept store and while they sell many different things you can always count on the fact that it will be colourful and vibrant. They sell books, various miscellaneous items and clothing. When I discovered this store a few years ago, it was still a small space with just some clothing items. But nowadays they’ve grown so big that they have a separate men’s and women’s store, on opposite sides of the street. This is a really great store to check out, it always lifts my mood the second I step through the door.
Side note: For mid-size/plus-size people like myself, the clothing here will probably not cater to you. So if you’re purely visiting for that reason, you might be better off skipping this stop. I know how frustrating it can be to find amazing stores that have nothing in your size so that’s why I wanted to give you this heads-up.
Stevenskerk
Another one of the highlights of sightseeing in Nijmegen! The Stevenskerk is a beautiful church just behind the market square. You can admire the outside, take a look at the beautiful inside, walk around to find some cute stores hidden at the back or go up the tower for an incredible view over all of Nijmegen. There’s usually an event happening here on the weekends, when I was there it was an exposition. Concerts and plays are held here and sometimes you can listen to a presentation or follow a workshop. Check their website for the program! But even with nothing happening, this place is still beautiful and a serene escape in the midst of the bustling city.
Holy sweets
Last but not least, I went to Holy sweets. This was actually not on the timetomomo recommendations but something I wanted to check out myself and I am so glad I did! It was late in the afternoon when I got there so most of their gorgeous pastries were already gone but I still managed to get a few to take home! Unfortunately one did not survive the journey by train and bike but still, it was delicious! If you are looking for a spot with delicious, Instagram-worthy foods, holy sweets is the place to go!
So, this is where my adventure ended. But I can imagine that if you end your day at this spot you would want somewhere to close out your day. So I’ll give you two more recommendations from a local, me J If you’re looking for a small bite and a drink go to café de blonde pater, it’s right on the corner of the same street as holy sweets. And then, about a five minute walk from the end of the tour is merano. If you’re looking for a full dinner this is a great option. Merano serves incredible Italian food and wines to pair with it, I can guarantee you’ll have a great time here!
Honestly, I’m so glad that I decided to commit myself to discovering new things to do in Nijmegen. I had an incredible day and saw some places I had never heard of before, even though I have lived here for over 20 years. It surprised me in all the best ways and I can’t wait to check out more of timetomomo’s routes and recommendations in the future!