Nijmegen

The oldest city in the Netherlands, on the Waal River. Valkhof Park shows Roman and medieval remains, riverside bars catch the sunset, and the July Four Days Marches draw the biggest crowds.

Nijmegen lies in Gelderland Province in eastern Netherlands, on the south bank of the Waal River, close to the German border. It grew out of a Roman military camp and is considered the oldest city in the Netherlands. It is also a university town. The old town is concentrated on the riverside heights. The Grote Markt and St. Stephen's Church form the center. To the east are Valkhof Park and its museum, and to the north, steps lead down to the lower town on the Waal riverbank, where the Waal Bridge and the Oversteek Bridge span the river. In 1944, the crossing of the Waal during Operation Market Garden took place here. To the southeast, in Groesbeek, are the Liberation Museum and the Canadian War Cemetery.

April to October is best for cycling and riverside walks. The Four Days Marches in the third week of July bring tens of thousands of walkers, and the summer carnival held at the same time fills the city, so book rooms in advance. Getting there: from Amsterdam, the train takes about 1.5 hours, and from Arnhem about 15 minutes. Düsseldorf Airport in Germany is about 1.5 hours away by car. Plan 1–2 days: one day for the old town, Valkhof, and the riverbank, and another for cycling around the Ooijpolder or visiting the WWII sites at Groesbeek.

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