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Nijmegen
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Nijmegen blends Roman history, riverside walks, lively student culture and cycling routes, with museums, cafés and Dutch heritage across the Waal.

River City with Ancient Foundations

Nijmegen stands on the southern bank of the Waal in Gelderland, close to the German border and surrounded by a landscape of river islands, wooded ridges and broad cycle paths. Its history reaches back to the Roman settlement of Noviomagus, while the medieval city grew around the fortified Valkhof hill and the prominent tower of the Stevenskerk. Today, old brick streets, university life and a large student population give Nijmegen an energetic character without erasing its long historical memory.
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Streets, Museums and Public Life

The compact centre is easy to explore on foot, with the steep Lange Hezelstraat linking the lower shopping streets to the Grote Markt and St Steven's Church. The Valkhof area brings together archaeological collections, remnants of medieval fortifications and views towards the river, while De Bastei interprets the Waal landscape and the city's relationship with water. Independent cafés, bookshops and cultural venues extend eastwards into Nijmegen-Oost, a neighbourhood known for its late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century streets and relaxed local atmosphere.

The Waal and the Wider Landscape

The river is central to Nijmegen's identity. The Waalkade provides an open promenade beneath the bridges, and nearby parks lead towards viewpoints over the floodplains. Across the water, the Ooijpolder offers quiet dykes, wetlands and village roads, while the hills around Berg en Dal begin just south-east of the city. Nijmegen is also associated with the International Four Days Marches, an annual walking event that fills the streets with walkers and supporters each July, adding a distinctive communal dimension to the city's cultural calendar.

When is the best time to visit Nijmegen?

Best: June–August · 22–24°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January653
February742
March1042
April1537
May1943
June (best)2252
July (best)2462
August (best)2462
September2153
October1547
November1047
December753

Getting to and around Nijmegen

How to get there

Nijmegen Centraal is the city's principal railway station, with regular Dutch rail connections including services via Arnhem and 's-Hertogenbosch, as well as onward links towards Germany through the regional network. Travellers arriving from abroad commonly use Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Eindhoven Airport or Düsseldorf Airport, then continue by train or road; each lies outside Nijmegen. Long-distance coaches and regional buses also serve the city, while motorways connect it with Arnhem, the Randstad and the German border. Check current rail, road and airport connections before travelling, as international journeys often require a change at a major Dutch station.

Transportation

Nijmegen's central districts are well suited to walking, with the Grote Markt, Lange Hezelstraat, Stevenskerk and Valkhof area within a manageable distance of one another. Local buses connect the railway station with residential districts, the university campus and surrounding towns. Cycling is a practical way to reach the Ooijpolder, the Waal bridges and the wooded landscape towards Berg en Dal, although river weather and gradients can affect longer rides. Taxis are available, while driving in the centre can be inconvenient because of restricted streets, limited parking and pedestrian areas. Check local signs before cycling through busy shopping streets.

Best attractions in Nijmegen

Nijmegen's principal attractions bring together archaeology, river landscapes and a compact historic centre. Museum Het Valkhof presents Roman finds, medieval art and modern works in the Valkhof quarter, where the surrounding park and remains of the old imperial complex add historical context. De Bastei, built into former city fortifications near the Waal, explores the river's wildlife, geology and changing relationship with the city. The Stevenskerk dominates the Grote Markt and rewards a visit for its long architectural history and interior detail, while the narrow Lange Hezelstraat leads through one of the Netherlands' oldest shopping streets. Along the Waalkade, broad views open towards the bridges and floodplains, and nearby Kronenburgerpark combines lawns, water and surviving medieval defensive elements. The muZIEum offers an experiential exploration of sight and perception, providing a change of pace from conventional galleries and museums.

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Best landmarks in Nijmegen

The Stevenskerk is Nijmegen's defining historic monument, a large medieval church whose tower and elevated position have shaped the city skyline for centuries. On the Valkhof hill, the Romanesque St Nicholas Chapel and the remains of the Valkhof complex recall the area's Carolingian and imperial associations, while nearby parkland opens towards the Waal. The Kronenburger Tower and sections of the old walls represent the fortified medieval town, especially clearly from Kronenburgerpark. Across the river, the Waalbrug is both a major piece of twentieth-century infrastructure and a landmark closely connected with the fighting and liberation of 1944. The riverside De Bastei occupies part of the historic fortification line and demonstrates how Nijmegen's defensive architecture has been adapted for public use. Together, these structures trace the city's movement from Roman frontier settlement to modern river city.

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Explore Nijmegen on the map

Plan your Nijmegen trip on one map. See where the top attractions, landmarks, restaurants, bars and hotels are, find what's near where you're staying, and book hotels and experiences in a few clicks.

Best restaurants in Nijmegen

Nijmegen's dining scene reflects Gelderland's produce, Dutch café culture and a large student and university population. Traditional menus may feature seasonal vegetables, fish, meat dishes and regional cheeses, while bakeries and cafés provide coffee, cakes and open sandwiches in the Dutch style. The centre around the Grote Markt, Lange Hezelstraat and Grote Straat mixes established restaurants with informal eateries, and Nijmegen-Oost has a more neighbourhood-oriented selection of cafés and small restaurants. Vegetarian and plant-based cooking is well represented in a city known for an environmentally conscious and youthful population, while food markets and specialist shops offer bread, cheese, beer and imported ingredients. Dining is generally relaxed and informal, with dinner reservations useful for popular venues and late-night food more concentrated around the central entertainment streets.

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Best bars in Nijmegen

Nijmegen's evening life is shaped by its university population, independent cultural scene and compact centre rather than by large-scale clubbing alone. Bars and cafés cluster around the Grote Markt, Molenstraat, Plein 44 and the streets near the university-facing side of the centre, ranging from traditional brown cafés to beer bars and contemporary venues. Doornroosje, close to Nijmegen Centraal, is an established platform for concerts, club nights and touring artists, while Brebl, across the river at the NYMA site, is associated with live music and cultural events. The city also has theatres, cinemas and occasional performances in historic or repurposed spaces, giving visitors alternatives to drinking-focused nightlife. Student events and the Four Days Marches can make particular evenings considerably busier than usual.

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Best nightclubs in Nijmegen

Nijmegen's evening life is shaped by its university population, independent cultural scene and compact centre rather than by large-scale clubbing alone. Bars and cafés cluster around the Grote Markt, Molenstraat, Plein 44 and the streets near the university-facing side of the centre, ranging from traditional brown cafés to beer bars and contemporary venues. Doornroosje, close to Nijmegen Centraal, is an established platform for concerts, club nights and touring artists, while Brebl, across the river at the NYMA site, is associated with live music and cultural events. The city also has theatres, cinemas and occasional performances in historic or repurposed spaces, giving visitors alternatives to drinking-focused nightlife. Student events and the Four Days Marches can make particular evenings considerably busier than usual.

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Best shops in Nijmegen

Nijmegen's shopping centre combines independent retailers with familiar Dutch chains, but its most distinctive character appears in the older streets around Lange Hezelstraat, Grote Straat and the Grote Markt. Lange Hezelstraat, one of the city's historic routes, is lined with small shops, cafés, specialist businesses and buildings that reward attention between purchases. Marikenstraat provides a more modern retail environment near the central square, while the streets towards Nijmegen-Oost contain local boutiques, bookshops and lifestyle retailers. Visitors can look for Dutch design, regional food products, cheese, chocolate, beer, second-hand books and small-scale crafts rather than relying solely on generic souvenirs. Regular markets add a practical local dimension, with food, flowers and household goods reflecting everyday Dutch shopping culture; exact market days and locations should be checked locally.

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Nijmegen essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the euro (EUR). Debit and credit cards, including contactless payments, are widely accepted in hotels, museums, shops, cafés and restaurants, although smaller market stalls or independent businesses may prefer a card with a Dutch or European payment network or may set a minimum transaction amount. Cash machines are available in the centre and at transport locations, but carrying a modest amount of euros remains useful for markets and occasional small purchases. International visitors should check foreign-exchange charges with their card provider and choose to pay in euros rather than accepting an unfamiliar dynamic currency conversion.
Safety
Nijmegen is generally straightforward for visitors, but ordinary urban precautions remain appropriate. Keep phones, wallets and bags secure in crowded shopping streets, at the railway station and during large events such as the International Four Days Marches. Take extra care around cycle lanes and junctions, since bicycles have priority in many Dutch traffic situations and can approach quietly. At night, use well-lit routes and licensed taxis or public transport when returning from entertainment areas. Along the Waal and in the floodplain landscape, follow marked paths and heed local notices about water levels, weather and changing ground conditions.
Emergency Situations
For an immediate threat to life, fire or serious crime in the Netherlands, call 112 and state whether police, fire and rescue, or medical assistance is required. Operators can handle English-language calls, but giving the exact street name, landmark or map location is important. For non-urgent police matters, the national number is 0900 8844 within the Netherlands. Pharmacies provide advice for minor medical needs, while visitors requiring urgent healthcare should contact their accommodation, insurer or local medical service for guidance. Keep travel insurance details and emergency contacts accessible, particularly when cycling or undertaking activities outside the city.
Do's and Don'ts
Use marked pavements and cycle crossings, and never walk casually into a cycle lane; cyclists move quickly and expect predictable behaviour. Queue politely, keep voices moderate on public transport and follow instructions at museums, churches and memorials. In restaurants, tipping is discretionary rather than compulsory, with a small amount or rounded-up bill appropriate for good service. Ask before photographing people at markets or cultural events, and dress respectfully when entering religious buildings. Do not climb on historic structures, obstruct cycle routes for photographs or assume that every shop or café accepts cash. Dutch social etiquette generally values direct, low-key communication and punctuality.
Local Tips
The historic centre is the natural starting point, but Nijmegen-Oost offers a different perspective through residential streets, small businesses and neighbourhood cafés. The route from the Valkhof through Hunnerpark towards the river gives a useful introduction to the city's topography, while the Waalkade and the paths near the Waalbrug reveal its floodplain setting. For a quieter outing, local cyclists and walkers head towards the Ooijpolder north of the river or the hills around Berg en Dal south-east of the centre. Museums and churches may use different opening patterns, so verify arrangements before building a tightly timed itinerary.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHallo[hah-loh]
GoodbyeTot ziens[tot zeens]
YesJa[yah]
NoNee[nay]
Please/You're welcomeAlsjeblieft[ahls-yuh-bleeft]
Thank youDank je wel[dahnk yuh vel]
Excuse me/SorrySorry[soh-ree]
How are you?Hoe gaat het?[hoo gah-t het]
Fine. And you?Goed. En met jou?[khoot. en met yow]
Do you speak English?Spreek je Engels?[sprayk yuh eng-els]
I don't understandIk begrijp het niet[ik buh-grayp het neet]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseIk zou graag de menukaart willen zien, alstublieft[ik zow khrahg duh men-yoo-kahrt vil-len zeen, ahl-stu-bleeft]
I don't eat meatIk eet geen vlees[ik ayt khayn vleys]
Cheers!Proost![prohst]
I would like to pay, pleaseIk zou graag willen betalen, alstublieft[ik zow khrahg vil-len buh-tah-len, ahl-stu-bleeft]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![help]
Go away!Ga weg![gah vehkh]
Call the Police!Bel de politie![bel duh poh-lee-see]
Call a doctor!Bel een dokter![bel ayn dohk-ter]
I'm lostIk ben verdwaald[ik ben fer-dwahld]
I'm illIk ben ziek[ik ben zik]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Ik zou graag willen kopen...[ik zow khrahg vil-len koh-pen]
I'm just lookingIk kijk alleen maar[ik kayk a-leen mahr]
How much is it?Hoeveel kost het?[hoo-vel kost het]
That's too expensiveDat is te duur[dat is tuh dur]
Can you lower the price?Kunt u de prijs verlagen?[kunt oo duh prays fur-lah-ghen]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Hoe laat is het?[hoo laht is het]
It's one o'clockHet is een uur[het is ayn oor]
Half past (10)Half elf[hahlf elf]
MorningOchtend[okh-tend]
AfternoonMiddag[mid-dahkh]
EveningAvond[ah-vohnd]
YesterdayGisteren[khis-teh-run]
TodayVandaag[vahn-dahkh]
TomorrowMorgen[mor-khun]
1Een[ayn]
2Twee[tway]
3Drie[dree]
4Vier[feer]
5Vijf[fayf]
6Zes[zehs]
7Zeven[zay-ven]
8Acht[ahkht]
9Negen[nay-khen]
10Tien[teen]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Waar is een/de...?[var is ayn/deh]
What's the address?Wat is het adres?[vaht is het ah-dres]
Can you show me (on the map)?Kunt u het me laten zien (op de kaart)?[kunt oo het me lah-ten zeen (op duh kahrt)]
When's the next (bus)?Wanneer is de volgende (bus)?[ven-er is duh vol-hen-duh (bus)]
A ticket (to ....)Een kaartje (naar ....)[ayn kahrt-yuh (nar)]

History of Nijmegen

Roman Noviomagus on the Waal

Nijmegen's earliest documented urban development is associated with Roman military activity on the Waal. A settlement known as Noviomagus grew into an important regional centre, commonly identified with the Roman town of Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum. Its position connected the river corridor with routes across the Lower Rhine region, and archaeological finds reveal administrative buildings, trade and a mixed population of soldiers and civilians. The Roman presence declined during the later empire, but excavated remains and museum collections continue to shape the city's understanding of its origins. The modern name Nijmegen derives from this Roman past, although the precise relationship between different Roman sites in the area remains a subject for archaeological interpretation.

The Carolingian Royal Residence

During the early medieval period, Nijmegen regained importance as a royal and imperial centre. The Valkhof hill was associated with a Carolingian palace complex, and Charlemagne is known to have used Nijmegen as one of his residences in the eighth and early ninth centuries. Its position near major river routes made it useful for governing the eastern Netherlands and maintaining links with lands across the Rhine. Later rulers continued to value the site, and the memory of the imperial residence survives in the Valkhof park and the Romanesque St Nicholas Chapel. Much of the palace itself has disappeared, but the hill remains one of the clearest places to understand Nijmegen's political significance in the early Middle Ages.

Medieval City and Guelders

Nijmegen expanded as a walled medieval city and received city rights from King Henry VII in 1230. In 1247, the town was pledged to Count Otto II of Guelders, tying its political future to the Duchy of Guelders. Trade along the Waal supported merchants and craftsmen, while the Grote Markt, Lange Hezelstraat and the developing church precinct formed the civic core. The Stevenskerk, begun in the thirteenth century and repeatedly enlarged, reflects the wealth and ambitions of this period. Fortifications, gates and towers protected the settlement, although successive wars and urban changes have left only fragments of the medieval defensive system visible today.

Imperial City and Treaty Diplomacy

Nijmegen retained the status of an imperial city within the Holy Roman Empire while also functioning as an important town in Guelders. Its location made it vulnerable to regional conflict, but also brought it into European diplomacy. The city became internationally prominent in 1678 and 1679 when the Treaties of Nijmegen ended several interconnected wars involving France, the Dutch Republic, Spain, Sweden and the Holy Roman Empire. The agreements altered territorial arrangements and helped stabilise relations in western Europe. Nijmegen's later development was less tied to imperial politics, yet the treaty remains a reminder that its river position once placed it directly within the strategic calculations of major European powers.

Railways, Industry and Urban Expansion

The nineteenth century brought new connections and a gradual transformation from fortified town to modern city. The railway reached Nijmegen in 1879, improving links with Arnhem, the wider Netherlands and Germany. The removal or weakening of military restrictions allowed the built-up area to expand beyond the old walls, while new residential streets and public buildings appeared around the historic centre. The Waal bridge, opened in 1936, strengthened road connections across the river and altered the city's relationship with the northern bank. Industrial employment, education and trade contributed to population growth, while the old centre retained a dense mixture of religious, commercial and civic buildings.

War, Liberation and Reconstruction

Nijmegen experienced severe disruption during the Second World War. In September 1944, the city became a major objective during Operation Market Garden because control of its bridges was considered essential to an Allied advance. Fighting around the Waal and the bridges caused extensive damage, and further destruction affected the city centre. Nijmegen was liberated in 1944 but remained close to the front for months, with civilians facing evacuation and insecurity. Post-war reconstruction reshaped streets, housing and infrastructure while preserving important elements such as the Stevenskerk and parts of the old city fabric. The events of 1944 remain visible in memorials, museums and the continuing symbolic importance of the bridges.

Nijmegen in Photos

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Discover Nijmegen like a local with Evendo, the 100% free app-based travel guide offering comprehensive info on attractions, restaurants, hotels, tours, and more.

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Plan your perfect trip to Nijmegen, Netherlands with Evendo, the free app that provides all the information you need on landmarks, attractions, dining, and activities. Download now!

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Welcome to Nijmegen, the oldest city in the Netherlands, where history and modernity blend seamlessly. With Evendo, your travel experience will be nothing short of extraordinary. Our app offers detailed insights into all the best attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities Nijmegen has to offer. Imagine exploring the majestic Valkhof Park, marveling at the historical beauty of St. Stevenskerk, or diving into the rich history at the Nijmegen Museum. Not to mention, foodies can relish the exquisite dining options at renowned restaurants like De Hemel and Bistro De Bok.

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Our app features a comprehensive history of Nijmegen and travel essentials to make your visit smooth and enjoyable. Navigate easily through the city with our user-friendly interface and the 'Near me' feature, which shows you nearby attractions, eateries, and activities. Curated local tips ensure you experience the city like a true local, uncovering hidden gems and authentic experiences.

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