A massive mall nearly attached to the Central Station in Utrecht, Netherlands. It's a gateway to…read morethe city of Utrecht from the station. Being from The United States, I must admit it is quite an impressive mall. I used to have minor panic attacks walking through this to get to Utrecht Center City with all the people. Now that the Corona measures are in place, it's a lot more tamed. The parking garage is high-end. Bathrooms are attended and it has the largest bicycle parking facility in The Netherlands. It's more than a "mall" but a destination. Still generally the same stores you find in center cities all over Holland, but more of a selection. Everything you need and very few closed locations. Worth a visit. I go here when the weather is terrible outside to get some steps too! Gezellig!

Great one stop shop for your gifting needs! Shirts, sweaters, etc. are located in the basement…read more The gentleman at the checkout was SO friendly. He let me try to talk with my broken and unrefined Dutch I have been working to learn. He even taught me a few words to say! Great stop for the little trinkets. I wish I had room in my bag for more.

They're actually open until 6pm. This shop had all of the touristy type souvenirs I needed:…read moremagnets, shot glasses, tulips, postcards, even thimbles and music boxes. The lady working there was very nice. They also sell international stamps if you need them for your postcards.

This is a very nice Hema in Utrecht. In the centrum right on the canal. It has two floors with…read moreescalators but not cramped at all. Most Hema's are large and very open space but this one takes it a step further. Doors in the front and back are a nice feature as well...plus with better ventilation. Hot food and drinks. Lots of wine and beer (to go) too! What's not to like. They had every kind of stroopwafel I didn't even know existed! Lots of candies and cakes too. Lekker! They do have everything from bike parts to socks as well. Of course things are a bit different during Corona times, but let's hope Hema keeps these big stores in expensive areas open. Worth checking out when you're right in the center and a 10 minute walk from the train station (through the mall).

I love this shop! I think the brand originates in Denmark and Scandinavians are just good at making…read morefun, practical items at a good price. IKEA being my number one favourite anything! Anyway, the Tiger sells a wide range of stuff. Mostly things for in and around the house; small office supplies, bathroom accessories, home décor, arts&crafts supplies, fun (family) games, herbs&spices, dinnerware, kitchenware and also some snacks and handy extras like umbrellas. And in this country, you can never really have too many umbrellas. What I also love though is the variety of quirky things like silly straws, stick-on moustaches for every day of the week, an entire line of moustache themed items such as moustache lined long johns: even the fact that they sell long johns just blows my mind! And now, because it is spring they're also selling some plant pots and seeds, super fun! A lot of the stuff is however sold in limited amounts, so don't make the mistake that I did with this awesome photo frame and think that you can also pick it up next time you're there. If it's awesome, then most likely it will be gone before you even get the chance to say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! So make sure you bring your wallet and a carry bag because if you need a big carry bag, you have to pay for it, which I think is stupid because you just can't leave this shop without needing a big bag for all of your stuff. But on the bright side, they also have a fridge with drinks and delicious chocolate milk in a glass bottle. Love the bottle, use it at home for water, flowers and whatever else I can think of in the future!

I love sandwiches! I have been waiting for years for Dutch people to realise that packed sandwiches…read moreare amazing. Back home in England we would always grab a sandwich on the go and when we moved here they were still non-existent. Now over a decade and a half later Albert Heijn to go seems to understand the amazingness that is the ready made, pre-packed sandwich and offers quite a wide variety. Luckily for me also quite a few (good!) vegetarian options. Other than that it's a good place to grab a quick snack, drink, lunch or even meal (salads and sandwiches) when you're on the go and want something delicious and fairly healthy. Next step: bring down the prices and AH to go will be travelling perfection.

Blackbird is perfectly located on beautiful Oudegracht in the centre of Utrecht and is selling…read moregreat coffee and vintage items. Blackbird is situated in quite a small space but has lots to offer. Not only they brew good coffee but also sell art, 60-70s style furniture, t-shirts and vintage bicycles. It is one of the first espresso bars in Utrecht combining the possibility of drinking coffee with shopping. Blackbird uses Koffieslab beans which are nice but sometimes have a sour note (don't kill the messenger, it's a personal preference). Apart from coffee Blackbird has a small menu with breakfast, dessert and refreshing drinks options. Baked goodies are made from biological products and are quite ok, but unfortunately very inconsistent and definitely not the best in town. Overall, Blackbird is a nice place for a cup of coffee and definitely a noticeable stop in search for interesting vintage items. READ MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG http://www.nansypop.com/food/blackbird-coffee-vintage/

Service with a smile, and in English! She brought my cappuccino to me as I sat out front facing the…read morecanal. Exactly the place I was looking for while spending a leisurely day exploring Utricht.

Friendly staff, Nespresso counter, delicious patisserie and a large section of kitchen and…read moredinnerware. That's really all I ask for and it's what I get here at the Bijenkorf, I love browsing the kitchen and dining section downstairs though I rarely actually buy something here. Either I buy it on sale or I look the product up online to find a better price. Also, I rarely look at any of the other departments here, kitchenware is really all I'm interested in as I would never spend fifty or more Euros on a pair of knickers nearly a thousand Euros on a coat. That's all just way out of my price range. I can however be tempted to buy the occasional treat at the patisserie. Everything I've had there has always been delicious and left cravings for more. I also love the rotating selection of boxed chocolates, wines and snacks that they sell right next to the patisserie counter. That corner is my guilty little pleasure and I love it. Also, if you're looking for jewellery, I recommend you not only consider the jewellers in the city but also have a look at Bijenkorf as they have a wonderful selection of brands in quite a broad range of prices. Whether your looking to spend around €250 or €2500 on a real diamond work of art (everything is so beautiful!) you're sure to find something. I personally love the brand Diamond Point where I recently found my perfect ring. I'm completely in love with it and can't wait for it to be ready. Sadly, I have fat fingers which means a custom order so I patiently await the arrival of my beauty. In the meanwhile, I will be back for pastries!

Really big place, it's in two floors. Biggest so far seen in NL. Huge choice of all sorts of second…read morehand furniture for Office and house. Mostly couches, carpets etc. All in neat quality. Also you'll find there a section of pre-owned electronics, clothing and kitchen accessories.

From the owner: kringloopwinkels in Utrecht de ARM Kringloop Centrum Utrechtread more