Utrecht

A trip on the river Kromme Rijn from Bunnik towards Utrecht. From the starting point at the castle Rhijnauwen it is 6.5 km towards the city center. Kayak rentals at Rijnstroom. From here it is about 3 km towards the city center. Or in the city center (Oudegracht 1, café Weerdzicht): Kanoverhuur Aan De Gracht.

The described trip is 23 km from Rhijnauwen and it includes several canals of Utrecht.

Oudegracht and Dom tower.

Exit the A12 (Utrecht - Arnhem) at Bunnik. Follow the secundary road N411 in the direction Utrecht. Just outside Bunnik you see a sign directing to the right towards Rhijnauwen. After a short distance you come at a parking place just before the bridge. There is a kayak pier where you can start your trip.

GPS: Lat 52.068300, Lon 5.177800

The Kromme Rijn meanders towards Utrecht through a beautiful landscape and the forest Amelisweerd. On a sunny Sunday afternoon you'll find many people kayaking and rowing on the river. It will take an hour or more to reach the city center. About halfway between Rhijnauwen and the city center you see kayak rentals Rijnstroom. You can turn right here and carry the kayak across the road or you go straight on towards Utrecht. At the first junction in Utrecht you turn right. Just before the next bridge you can turn left or right. To the left is the Kromme Nieuwegracht. This canal is about 2 km and very quiet (no motorized boats allowed).

To the right is a very narrow canal with a very low bridge further on (difficult to pass). I leant over to the right and held to the side. I just managed to pass the pipes with just 1 cm left before the water would get into my kayak. You can also choose to go to the side and carry the kayak about 100 meters after the second bridge where you will find a small weir with kayak piers on both sides.

Straigt on you follow the canal around the city center. When you are north of the city center you go west. At the T-junction you see on your right the locks Weerdsluis. This way is the Vecht leading towards Muiden (40 km). Passing the locks will cost 3 euro. If you turn left you enter the Oudegracht where all the terraces are along the side. You pass the dom-tower (photo above). At the next junction you turn left and then you come at the place where you entered Utrecht. Now you turn right for the trip on the Kromme Rijn back to the starting point.

Rhijnauen.

Amelisweerd

Oudegracht.

Kromme Nieuwegracht.