Wageningen
Wageningen[dead link] is a town along the Rhine river within the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands. Because of its famous agricultural university, it is more lively than one would expect from a Dutch town with 39,000 inhabitants (2019). In 2007 it had residents from 152 different countries, mainly being students at the university. Wageningen was the site of the formal surrender of the Germans to the Allies in the Netherlands on May 5, 1945, a day that is a public holiday in the Netherlands. Wageningen hosts a military veterans parade and this is followed by great alcohol consumption in the town.
Understand
Wageningen lies close to the right bank of the branch of the Rhine estuary known in the Netherlands as the Nederrijn. Excavations date a settlement at this site back to the Stone Age. The hills to the east of the town provided protection for a Bronze Age tribe from flooding of the Rhine and from enemies and the earliest record of the name (in 838AD) is from the same hilly area. The town has had a chequered history, being occupied or destroyed on several occasions. Also, in 1421 the Rhine changed course, moving further south and, in the process, having a detrimental effect on Wageningen's trade. In the 17th century the town started tobacco cultivation and there were several cigar manufacturers. The floodplain of the Rhine to the south also had several brick factories, one of which can still be seen.
In 1876 the Dutch government decided to build the first agricultural school in Wageningen on the grounds that it was in the heart of the country and was surrounded by a wide variety of soils. Since then the town has boomed and Wageningen University is now a world-renowned Life Sciences university. Wageningen also has the largest inland port in the Netherlands.
Get in
The story goes that Wageningen was given the choice of getting a university or a train station. It chose the university, and still doesn't have a station. There is a station called Ede-Wageningen but it is close to Ede and 8 km from Wageningen. The Ede-Wageningen station is about an hour from Amsterdam or from Schiphol airport. From these stations look for trains headed to Arnhem and Nijmegen. There is a train every half an hour from Amsterdam and every half an hour from Schiphol. If you miss the direct train you can take a train to Utrecht and change there. Arriving at Ede-Wageningen, take Bus No. 88 to downtown Wageningen (turn left at bottom of stairs leading down from the platforms). This stops at many of the student residences en route. By taxi (turn right at bottom of stairs) the journey will cost €25.
From Arnhem, take Bus No. 51 or 52 from Arnhem station to Wageningen bus station.
Wageningen can be reached by car from highway A12, which passes to the north, A15, which passes to the south and can be reached by a ferry over the Rhine, and the A50, which passes to the east.
For information on the various types of bus and train tickets see Netherlands#Get around.
Get around
Cycling is the best mode of transport and there are several stores downtown that can provide bike rentals. For those staying longer it is possible to buy second-hand bikes. A stall in the main square on Saturdays has good bargains. New bikes range from around €200 for a Chinese-made one (looked upon contemptuously by the Dutch) to up to €1000 for a real Dutch bike. All of the main roads have separate cycling lanes. These have their own traffic signals and you are expected to obey them. At roundabouts and other junctions cyclists usually have the right of way but this cannot be guaranteed so be careful. You have to give way if there are white triangles on the track that point towards you.
Bus No.88 also takes you around most of Wageningen but it really doesn't make much sense to ride the bus here.
See
Detailed information in English can be found at . There is a Tourist Office in the Kniphorst Bookshop in Hoogstraat 49.
- 1 Wageningen University. What began as an agricultural university, Wageningen University and Research Centre (known as WUR) is a renowned international university famous for its agricultural sciences. It has a large community of international students making it one of the most multicultural universities in the Netherlands. The university arboretum along Generaal Foulkesweg is quite beautiful in the summer.
- 2 Hotel de Wereld. Translates to 'Hotel of the World'. Site of the formal surrender of the Germans to the Allies in the Netherlands on May 5th, 1945. Wageningen is the place to be on 5th of May as celebrations in the Netherlands are centred around the town.
- 3 Windkorenmolen De Vlijt, Harnjesweg 54A (just off Churchillweg, not far from the bus station). A 19th-century wind-powered flour mill. Upper floors of the mill, where the actual milling process can be observed, are open to the public every Saturday for free. The store downtairs sells a range of both organic and non-organic baking supplies.
- 4 [dead link] Wijngaard Wageningse Berg. There is a local winery that produces biological wine close to the Wageningse Berg Hotel. Worth a visit as it is one of the few wineries in the Netherlands.
- 5 Casteelse Poort Museum, Bowlespark Avenue. The Casteelse Poort Museum showcases the history of Wageningen as well as the Wageningen Castle ruins over which the museum was built. The house was the property of a wealthy 19th-century family until it was converted to the current museum. Highlight of the museum is the archeological dig on display in the basement of the museum, which uncovers part of the foundation of the old Wageningen castle that had been discovered. Behind the museum is a preserved section of the wall and watch tower foundations of the said castle. €3.
- 6 Het Depot Sculpture Gallery, Arboretumlaan 4, ☏ +31 317 467 720. Th Sa Su 11:00-17:00; F 11:00-21:00. Free.
Do
- 1 Heerenstraat Theater, Molenstraat 1b (just off Hoogstraat), ☏ +31 317 41 40 29, info@heerenstraattheater.nl. First release films in original language with Dutch subtitles, which is fine for English speakers until they show a Japanese film.
- Cycle/walk along the dyke. Enjoy the beautiful view of the countryside along the dyke amongst the grazing sheep and cows of the surrounding farms. Cycling and walking tours are organised by the Wageningen Guild
- Rhine River. Wageningen is on the most northern spur of the Rhine estuary. From the dyke that protects the town in case the river floods you can take walks through the meadows to the Rhine and then along it. Popular among the locals as a place to go fishing and swimming, especially during the warmer months. Attracts thousands of ice skaters when it freezes. Good birdwatching. Two ferries to the East and West of the town allow for a pleasant round trip by bike.
Buy
The main shopping street in Wageningen is the Hoogstraat although selection is limited. Apart from a shop selling wooden clogs, there are no obvious souvenirs to purchase. For visiting students setting up home for a time, inexpensive household items are available at HEMA and BLOKKER on Hoogstraat. Shopping hours are limited. Most shops close around 18:00 during the week and at 17:00 on Saturdays, except on Friday evening when they are open until 21.00. Supermarkets stay open until 20:00 most evenings and are also open on Sunday afternoons.
- 1 Emmaus, Heerenstraat 9. W 10:00-13:00; Sa 13:00-16:00. A cheap second-hand shop that is very popular with students and other short-term visitors to Wageningen who are shocked to find that furnished apartments are rarely available. Furniture, electrical items and all sorts of stuff. They deliver.
- 2 De Beschte, Bergstraat 22, ☏ +31 317-42 11 55, debeschte@antiquariaten.nl. Good second-hand and antiquarian bookshop. Good paperback selections in English, French and German as well as Dutch.
- 3 IMAGINE, art, books, design. Really nice cafe with lots of books and other nice gifts. Has a very beautiful back terrace you can sit on.
Eat
Budget
- 1 [formerly dead link] De Serre, Stationsstraat 5-7 (eastern end of Hoogstraat), ☏ +31 317 423370. lunchtimes only. Soups, salads and sandwiches in a glass building. Outside tables, too, for the rare occasions it is not raining in Wageningen.
- Open Markt - on Wednesday morning (09:00-12:00) and Saturday (09:00-17:00). The market downtown offers typical Dutch foods. The freshly made stroopwafels on Wednesdays are fantastic.
Mid-range
- 2 De Keuken, Hoogstraat 5 (just off the main square), ☏ +31 317 420936, josephine@groenestein.net. until 19:00. Tanzanian lady dispenses soups and curries from a small kitchen. Eat at a couple of tables or take away.
- 3 [dead link] Eetcafé Carré, Vijzelstraat 2 (centrum) (Close to Town Hall just off the main square). Tu W 15:00-22:00, Th-Sa 15:00-24:00, closed Monday. Good quality restaurant with regularly changing "Board" menu. Comfortable chairs outside for a drink while watching the world go by.
- 4 Eetcafe de Kater, Markt 8, ☏ +31 317 - 421009, info@eetcafedekater.nl. lunchtime to midnight, closed Tuesdays. Nice location on a summer's evening, sitting outside on the main square. Food OK but the service here is woefully slow.
- 5 [formerly dead link] Eetcafe H41, Heerenstraat 41, ☏ +31 317 - 42 17 15, h41@eetcafeh41.nl. Grilled meats, including kangaroo, with a variety of sauces. Enormous calorie-filled desserts. €20-30.
- Eatcetera, Lawickse Allee 9 (at Hotel Hof Van Wageningen), ☏ +31 317 490 463, info@eatcetera.nl. The interior lighting seems more appropriate for Amsterdam's red-light district but if you can put up with that the food is good. Popular with locals as well as hotel guests. €25 for a three-course meal.
- 6 MyAsia, Hoogstraat 9 (Market square end of the main street), ☏ +31 317 411029. Serving reasonably authentic Thai food. €20-25.
- Pannekoek House - Traditional Dutch pancake restaurant within the centre.
- 7 Sa Lolla, Molenstraat 6 (Upstairs opposite the cinema), ☏ +31 317 412611. Italian restaurant run by Italians, with reasonably authentic pizzas. Somewhat expensive but always full.
- 8 Toledo, Schoolstraat 15, ☏ +31 317-422858, info@restauranttoledo.nl. Excellent Spanish restaurant and tapas bar. Main courses €15-20.
Splurge
Ice cream
- 9 [formerly dead link] Cicuto, Schuylensteeg 5 (in a small square just off Hoogstraat), Info@ijssaloncicuto.nl. 12:00-22:00 from first week of March to first week of October. Italian-style ice cream that is very popular with the locals. On a sunny day be prepared for a long queue.
- 10 IJssalon Antonio, Bevrijdingsstraat 48, 6703 AB Wageningen, ☏ +31683783642. An ice cream shop open from March to September, which sells a wide and varying range of ice cream throughout the season.
Drink
There are many cafes located around the church in the centre with good selection of beers.
Most student residences (triangular-looking buildings) also have their own bar downstairs.
Wageningen does not have a particularly thriving nightlife, but still there are a few nice cafes and pubs to hang around, drink beers and listen to live music. The main hangout places in Wageningen are:
- 1 De Vlaamsche Reus. Popular bar in main square with over 120 beers on offer. and some others.
There are also a few "coffee shops" in town for those who are looking for 'alternative entertainment'.
- 2 Stadsbrouwerij Wageningen, 1e Kloostersteeg 5, ☏ +31 636 300 440, info@stadsbrouwerijwageningen.nl. W-F: 15:00 - 01:00, Sa: 12:00 - 01:00, Su: 12:00 - 23:00.
Sleep
Mid-range
- 1 Hotel de Wageningse Berg, Generaal Foulkesweg. Atop the Wageningse Berg hill. Very nice vantage point looking out at the Rhine river and plains.
- 2 Hotel Hof van Wageningen, Lawickse Alle 9, ☏ +31 317490133, info@hofvanwageningen.nl. A conference hotel much used by the local university. Very small but comfortable rooms. Short walk to the town centre. Elevators hopelessly inadequate so ask for a low floor. €80 single.
Splurge
- Hotel de Wereld. Historic hotel. Look for its history at its "See" listing above. On the pricier side.
Go next
On Saturday and Sunday, the town is quite empty since Dutch students go back to their hometowns to spend their weekend with friends and family. If you are looking for some Dutch nightlife try Arnhem, Utrecht or Rotterdam!
- Hoge Veluwe National Park. Wageningen is 15 km from this large nature reserve. Very nice for biking and nature walks as well as for spotting the local wildlife. Hundreds of white bicycles available free of charge. A good museum with the second largest collection of paintings by Van Gogh to be found anywhere.
| Routes through Wageningen |
| The Hague ← Ede ← | W  E |
→ Arnhem |