Nijmegen: Oldest City, Greenest Capital, and a Whole Lotta Bikes (Oh My)
okay, so i’m still processing my trip to nijmegen. what a place. honestly, it felt a little overwhelming, in the best way possible. it's like a history book exploded and then decided to become a really cool, modern city.
first off, the history. they really don’t mess around when they say nijmegen is the oldest city in the netherlands (like, 2000+ years old!). it started as a roman settlement, noviomagus, and it's seen it all - emperors, carolingians, being a free imperial city, even a bit of french occupation. it’s wild to think about all that history just…existing. they even have ruins of charlemagne's castle! i wandered around Valkhof Park, poking around the remains - felt like i was in a movie.
and the green stuff! they actually won European Green Capital in 2018. it’s not just lip service, either. they did this massive "Room for the River" project to deal with flooding (apparently the Waal River can be a bit temperamental). it’s fascinating how they relocated dikes and created islands to improve flood protection - and make the city more pleasant too.
let's talk about the people. a HUGE student population thanks to radboud university. it definitely gives the place a youthful energy, but it can also get crowded, especially during the Vierdaagse (International Four Days Marches). someone told me it's like a massive, organized chaos - sounds fun, but also…a lot. the locals, or “Nijmegenaars”, seem pretty chill, though. they’re all about biking - seriously, you gotta bike everywhere. it's part of the culture. you’ll see bikes everywhere.
weather-wise…i just checked and it's…there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. it’s definitely spring-ish. but don't expect sunshine every minute. it’s the netherlands, after all.
food? i didn't really do deep dives into specific dishes, but what i gathered is that it's mainly dutch with some regional gelsderland specialties. lots of river fish, and hearty stuff. apparently, the markets are a good place to find local eats. and they have plenty of those student-oriented eateries with affordable options.
if you get bored, arnhem and other cities in the rhine region are just a short drive away. and if you're into history, you’re in heaven. it's a really interesting mix of old and new, green and urban. the post-wwii rebuilt center is modern, which a few people mentioned felt a little less quaint than you might expect. but hey, it's functional and clean.
things to be aware of? flood risk is a thing, even with the improvements. and prepare for bikes! lots and lots of bikes. oh, and book accommodations early if you're going during the Vierdaagse. it sounds like it’s a huge event.
nijmegen really stood out as the Netherlands' oldest city, a pioneer in flood resilience, and a green leader. it’s a place where history, nature, and sustainability seem to coexist pretty well. definitely worth a visit.
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