Loco2 recommends

• Illuminated Night Walk

  

  The most famous sites come into their own as the sun sets over Utrecht; artistic illuminations cast shadow onto mortar, giving a new dimension to impressions gleaned in daylight. The Tale of Light tour is a free night walk on Saturday evenings, when expert guides lead you through works of art by renowned light artists.

  A photographer’s dream, these weird lights bring fantastical nuances to ordinary buildings by projecting psychedelic colour onto eaves and archways. Centuries old Gothic domes are turned multicoloured and rainbow shards beam from ancient cloisters in a direct challenge to convention.

  Setting off at 10pm, the guided tour, which takes place every Saturday evening, takes two hours to navigate its way through the artistic landscape of Utrecht. If you’re not able to attend the escorted excursion on Saturdays, you can still enjoy the tour by picking up a free map from the tourist office or downloading one from the Trajectum Lopus website

• Canoe Canal

  

  Famed for their beauty, the canals and quaysides of the Netherlands are known throughout the world. The waterways of Utrecht are no exception, with a vast network of canals that stretch out to the city’s furthest corners. They give visitors a glimpse of how Utrecht evolved into the city it is today and a fascinating insight into waterside living. What better way to appreciate the 14th century waterways, sunken canals and overhead bridges, than from a canoe?

  Utrecht’s canals are unique in the Netherlands for having quaysides directly located at the water’s edge. Tree-lined and blessed with dappled sunlight, every waterside café, bar and restaurant is a potential pit stop as you cruise through the city. Paddle to the park for a picnic, or head into town to see the city’s sights from sea level - with your canoe equipped with a GPS, you can’t go wrong.

  Lone wolves can go solo and opt for a single canoe, while families and friends can chose from two or three person long-nosed canoes. Even groups are catered for with the larger fluisterboot ("whisper boats") which can fit up to eight people. Don't panic, you’re all in the same boat. If any of you are feeling particularly brave then you could even try your hand at a guided night excursion, which is another way to appreciate the artistic light shows of the city’s architecture, this time from the water.

• Winkel Van Sinkel

  

  Swap your coffee for a cocktail, and do as the students do in Utrecht of an evening, as this vibrant town comes to life with the sunset. Daytime appearances can be deceptive. It’s not all river cruises and church tours, there’s plenty going on under the surface with a whole host of bars and restaurants to choose from.

  De Winkel van Sinkel on the banks of the canal at Oudegracht, deserves a mention if only for the name (and the nachtwinkel). Come here for early evening drinks at the water’s edge, or cocktails and clubbing until dawn. This is a good tip for live music, swing dancing and even a knitting club, but it is only one of many places to go.

  The banks of the canal are spilling over with trendy cafes, live music, and summer street performances. And the hot tip for bars and restaurants changes with the seasons. Our advice? Forge your own path along the quayside and see what grabs your imagination.

  Image: Marcfonteijn reproduced with thanks under a CC Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic Licence