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Boat trips in Utrecht

21st August 2006

Visitors to the Dutch city of Utrecht can relax by taking a variety of boat trips around the city's expansive river and canal network.

There are a range of options for a water based trip around Utrecht with traditional sailing vessels proving a popular choice for the city's visitors. Although Utrecht's collection of smacks, flatboats, clippers and other used to serve the city's working fishing contingent, they are now utilised almost exclusively by the tourism industry. A trip on such a vessel is an impressive experience and those with a nautical persuasion will enjoy the flapping of sails and creaking of old oak wood.

Day trips along one of Utrecht's numerous rivers are also a well-liked outing and provide a more sedate pace. Running for the best part of the day and with a variety of companies providing lunch as part of the package, visitors can choose from trips along the River Vecht, the Hollandse IJsel, Kromme Rijn or the Eemmeer Lake.

Perhaps most fashionable of all are the city's many canal cruises with visitors enjoying the option of either a standard one-hour trip or the more specialised 8.5-hour-long tours. There are two main companies offering canal cruises in Utrecht; Lovers and Schuttevar. Customers can select from two extended day-long tour types; the first being a canal ride combined with a museum stop-off while the second is a canal tour that finishes at the city's Stadkasteel Oudaen brewery. Thirsty visitors can round off this relaxing day trip with the taste of a refreshing local brew.

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