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The First Utrecht City Walk
The First Utrecht City Walk
On July 4, 2026, Le Champion organized its first Utrecht City Walk. The weather was pleasant, and the event supported the charity KiKa. At the start, the KiKa bear mascot high-fived participants, then welcomed walkers again as they crossed the finish line. The mix zone offered a warm welcome back, with toilets, food trucks, a KiKa tent, an information desk, and picnic benches where hikers could wait before starting or rest afterward. Family and friends enjoyed music while the walkers were on the route.
KiKa Walk Series
KiKa Walk Series
The organizer of this event, Le Champion, hosts 14 hiking events across The Netherlands and also organizes cycling and running events. I like their hiking events and participated in many of their hikes. The Utrecht City Walk is part of a series of three events: Haarlem, Utrecht, and Texel. I previously completed the Haarlem walk, and yesterday I also hiked the Utrecht route.
25 km Through the Centre of Utrecht
25 km Through the Centre of Utrecht
During the first Utrecht City Walk, 5.000 people took part, spread across four different distances: 25 km, 18 km, 12 km, and the family walk. I chose the 25 km route, which started at 8:00 in the morning. The hike led mostly through Utrecht’s historic city centre and then extended out toward the Lunet I fortress. There I received my first stamp, I could take a free ‘krentenbol’, rest for a moment, and use the toilets.
Seeing Utrecht’s Centre & Surroundings Become Greener
Seeing Utrecht’s Centre & Surroundings Become Greener
The third stretch of the route led through Griftpark. It has become much greener and more vibrant than I remember. I didn’t know it had changed so much; it used to be a place where events like ‘Bevrijdingsdag’ festival were held occasionally. I really liked what I saw. The park is actively used by the surrounding neighborhoods: children playing, families strolling, people exercising. There’s a café by the water, sculptures scattered throughout the park, and a variety of plants and green spaces. It doesn’t feel crowded, yet it’s lively enough to give the park a welcoming atmosphere.
Lombok, Utrecht’s First Suburb
Lombok, Utrecht’s First Suburb
The final stretch of the walk took me through Lombok, the oldest suburb of Utrecht. The old workers’ cottages, built around 1887, are still lived in today. I used to live just across from Lombok and often went there to buy exotic groceries, and later, regular groceries too, once supermarkets and other essential shops opened in the neighborhood. The suburb continues to develop and is becoming better connected to the city centre. I’m curious to see what it will look like once multiple bridges are added and the water is restored.
Related blogs on my website
Related blogs on my website
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