From Wikitravel
Hilversum [1] is a medium-sized city
in the Gooi area of North-Holland, the
Netherlands. Once
called the Garden of Amsterdam, most travelers
still come over to cycle and hike through the surrounding forests
and heathland. The city is also known for it's modern architecture,
with Dudok's Town Hall Hilversum being the most
significant design.
Understand
Unlike most of the Netherlands, Hilversum is actually in a hilly
area with the soil mostly consisting of sand. The city is between
the major cities of Amsterdam and Utrecht, and most travelers visit it for a
relaxing day off from the urban madness. The forests, lakes and
heathlands surrounding the city can best be discovered by bicycle
or on foot. Most of the lands are property of the Goois
Natuurreservaat Foundation (GNR), a non-profit organization
dedicated to protecting the nature reserves. Another goal is to
connect nature reserves that have been separated by motorways and
other human-made structures. For this end, the wildlife crossing
Zanderij Crailo was completed in 2006, and it
currently is the largest wildlife crossing in the world. It
connects the Spanderswoud and the Bussumerheide heath, and is part
of a larger program to connect nature reserves from the Utrecht Hill
Ridge to Naarden.
The city itself is also green and breezy with trees pretty much
everywhere. A total of 660 different types of trees to be exact,
the largest variety of species in the Netherlands. Typical for the
city is the way forests and city building naturally blend into each
other. Hilversum has been called a 'villa village'
(villadorp), for it's many villas with large surrounding
gardens. The botanical garden Pinetum Blijdenstein
is the most remarkable one, with an enormous collection of rare and
endangered trees and plants, some of which are exotic. It is also
home to one of the most complete collections of conifers.
History
Hilversum is one of the first inhabited areas of the
Netherlands, as shown by earthenware from the early to mid-bronze
age (1800-1200 BCE). This prehistoric civilization is called
Hilversum Culture and is characterized by the use
of cremation burial under round barrows set in round barrow
cemeteries. The urns show similarities with the Wessex Culture of
Southern Britain, where the population might have migrated from. In
the early Middle Ages, Hilversum was an agricultural area. Around
900, the first bricks were laid, but no official mention of
Hilversum was made until 1305. Then called Hilfersheem,
ethymologists explain the name of Hilversum to derive from
Hilvertshem, which means 'houses between the hills'. First the town
was a part of Naarden, which
is also worth a visit for it's medieval remains, but it received an
official independent status in 1424. Daily life was characterized
by farming, raising sheep and wool manufacturing.
Economic growth came in the 17th century when Holland became one
of the richest trading nations in Europe. Canals were built to
indirectly link Hilversum with Amsterdam, though fires in 1725 and
1766 destroyed most of the town. A railway link to Amsterdam in
1874 aided a substantial textile and tapestry industry. Rich
traders from Amsterdam built themselves large villas in the wooded
surroundings of the town. As Hilversum never got city rights,
locals still refer to the town center as 'the village' (het
dorp). In the early 1900s, modern architects W.M. Dudok and J.
Duiker from the New Objectivity School placed hundreds of
remarkable buildings here (and even entire neighborhoods). Dudok's
masterpiece, the Town Hall Hilversum from 1931,
features in many architecture textbooks. The transition to a media
economy started in 1920, when the Nederlandse Seintoestellen
Fabriek (NSF) established a radio factory. Most radio stations
settled in the large villas in the leafy areas of the town. The
textile industry had by then declined and the last factory closed
in the 1960s. Television gave a renewed boost to the local economy
and the number of inhabitants grew to 103.000 in 1964. Hilversum
became the media capital of the Netherlands, and
Dutch television celebrities moved in the leafy neighborhoods
surrounding the town. In 1973, Hilvertshof was
opened, the first and back then the largest covered shopping center
of the Netherlands.
In the next decennia, there was a decline in the number of
inhabitants till an all-time low of 80.000 in 1999. Decline was
caused by financial issues, smaller households, the infamous
infrastructure and the inability to expand due to the protected
forests surrounding the area. Dissatisfaction among the public made
Hilversum the first town to have a party of the populist 'livable'
movement (Leefbaar Hilversum). In 2002, this party went
national with the controversial politician Pim Fortuyn as it's
leader. After a radio interview during the campaign of the 2002
Dutch general election, Fortuyn was shot and killed by an animal
rights activist in the Media Park in Hilversum. Only recently there
has been a renewed interest in Hilversum. With financial issues a
matter of history, Hilvertshof has been fully renovated and the new
Gooische Brink Shopping Center has opened. New upscale and hip bars
opened doors in the center and a vintage district emerged in the
Leeuwenstraat. New architectural masterpieces have been built, such
as the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, as well as
Zanderij Crailo, the largest wildlife crossing in the world. It's
main railway station has expanded from 3 to 5 tracks and a new
bicycle tunnel was constructed. The station regained Intercity
status with international trains now arriving directly from Berlin.
- VVV Gooi- en Vechtstreek Tourist Office,
Kerkbrink
6, ☎ +31 35 621 29
42, [2]. M-Sa 10AM-5PM. Always visit the tourist office if you have
plans for biking or hiking as they sell plenty of useful maps for
the area. It's not necessary to understand Dutch as the routes are
clearly marked. They also have numerous other leaflets available,
either free or not more than €5. edit
By train
Because of the central location of it's main railway station,
Hilversum can best be reached by the Netherlands Railways [3] service. Trains run roughly every
15 minutes between 5AM and 1AM to and from the directions Amsterdam, Schiphol
Airport, Utrecht,
Amersfoort and Almere. The smaller railway
stations Hilversum Noord and Hilversum
Sportpark are within walking distance of the main railway
station.
Every day, six international trains to and from Berlin and Hannover also stop in Hilversum. Reserving
seats [4] is not necessary, but
can be advised as prices are lower and rush hours can be
crowded.
By car
Hilversum can be reached by motorways A1,
A2 and A27. From the northwest
and east (Amsterdam and
Amersfoort), take A1
exit 9 at Laren, drive south on
N525 and follow the signs. From the west (Schiphol
Airport and Leiden),
get on motorway A2 and take exit 4 at Vinkeveen. From there, drive
east on N201. From the north and south (Almere and Utrecht), take motorway A27 and exit 33.
Plenty of local roads can be used to get to Hilversum as well.
These smaller roads are an interesting way to see more of the
forests and rural areas around the town. N524 is a
ride through the Spanderswoud forest from Bussum in the northwest. Two other forest rides
are N525, from Laren in the northeast, and
N415, from Baarn in the east. From the south, the
rural road N417 makes it's way through several
farm fields and villages. N201 from Vinkeveen in
the west goes through flat farmlands as well.
By plane
Hilversum Airport [5] is
the town's airport in the southwest, but it's only used for
recreational and training purposes. The closest international
airport is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (IATA: AMS) (ICAO: EHAM) [6], one of the
largest hubs of Europe. Scheduled flights from most of the major
carriers land there, especially from destinations in Europe, North
America and Asia. Plenty of low-cost carriers attend
the airport as well, like easyJet [7], Jet2.com
[8],
Transavia.com [9] and
WizzAir [10]. From 6AM till midnight, a
train leaves for Hilversum every 15 minutes from platform 3. The
journey takes about 30 minutes with the direct Intercity
train. The Sprinter train needs 45 minutes to bring you to
Hilversum and a transfer at the Weesp railway station is required. Alternative
airports are Eindhoven
and Rotterdam, mostly
attended by Ryanair [11] and other low-cost
carriers.
On foot and bike
As nearly all stores, restaurants and bars are located in the
center, walking is a good way to get around Hilversum. From the
main railway station, it's a short walk through the Leeuwenstraat
to reach the center and most of the sights. The streets in the
center are pretty much free of cars and bicycles, except for the
Groest on which bicycles and a limited number of cars are
allowed.
The outlying forests have pedestrian trails available as well,
but the vast distances make them more suitable for biking.
Hilversum is probably one of the safest towns to explore by bike,
as all the larger roads have designated biking paths, which can be
recognized by the reddish-purple color. Bikers can follow the
specific signs with a white background and red letters.
Bike rentals:
- Fietspoint, Stationsplein 1 (Main railway station), [12]. M-F
5.15AM-1.15AM, Sa 7AM-1.15AM, Su 9AM-midnight. €2,85 per day. edit
- Kiosk Hilversum Noord, Noorderweg
229 (Railway station
Hilversum Noord), [13]. M-F
7AM-10PM, Sa-Su 12AM-10PM. €2,85 per
day. edit
- Kiosk Sportpark, Soestdijkerstraatweg 33 (Railway station Hilversum
Sportpark), [14]. M-F
8AM-10PM, Sa-Su 11AM-10PM. €2,85 per
day. edit
By bus
Connexxion [15] offers bus connections
from Hilversum's main railway station to the surroundings. You can
plan your trip door-to-door using 9292ov.nl [16], though results vary.
Especially in the evening, buses run infrequently and, for close
destinations, walking is often faster than waiting for the bus to
arrive. Bus transportation can best be used if you want to visit
sights in the outskirts, or the surrounding villages. Fares are €2
per zone.
Typical Hilversum: lots of greenery and traffic congestion
The road network of Hilversum is an absolute nightmare with it's
one-way roads, congestion and limited parking space. The roads and
directions often change, which make old maps unreliable. The roads
are basically designed as a double ring system.
The outer ring around the city features two-way traffic, while the
inner ring around the center only has one-way traffic. If you miss
an exit, you will have to drive around the whole inner ring again
for another try. It's best to avoid visiting Hilversum by car, but
if you insist, signs in the inner ring show which of the following
parking lots have space available:
- City
Parking, Noordse Bosje 19-21, ☎ +31 624 86 56, [17]. M-Th 8AM-10.30PM, F 8AM-8.30PM, Sa 8AM-6PM, Su
closed. €1 per 40 minutes.
edit
- Gooiland Parking, Koningshof 1. M-F 8.30AM-2AM, Sa 8AM-5AM, Su closed. €0,70 per 30 minutes. edit
- Gooische Brink Parking, Brinkweg 1.
M-F 8.30AM-2AM, S 8.30AM-5AM, Su closed.
€0,70 per 30 minutes. edit
- Q-Park Hilvertshof, Groest 86, ☎ 0900-4466880 (Dutch phones only),
[18]. open 24
hours. €1,50 per hour. edit
- Q-Park Silverpoint, Schapenkamp 12, ☎ 0900-4466880 (Dutch phones only),
[19]. M-W
8AM-8.30PM, Th-F 8AM-9.30PM, Sa 8AM-6.30PM, Su closed. €1,50 per hour. edit
Free parking options exist between the inner and the outer ring,
but it's a 10 to 15 minutes walk to the center. The closest free
parking area is located at Wandelpad between the
main railway station and the railway station Hilversum Sportpark,
but be careful not to leave any valuables behind.
Car rental:
- Europcar, Stationsstraat 2c (Near main railway station), ☎ +31 35 624 36 84,
[20]. daily 8AM-6PM. €45-100 per day. edit
By taxi
Taxis in Hilversum are quite expensive. The first 2 km will be
around €7,50 with each additional kilometer €2,20. A 10-minute ride
from the center to the outskirts will be around €14. Longer
distances are more dramatic, a 35-minute drive to or from
Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam will be around €85. Taxis are
generally available at the main railway station and at nighttime
around the Groest. If you are elsewhere, you will need to call the
taxi company to pick you up. There are 2 different cab companies
servicing Hilversum, which generally only accept cash:
- A.C.H. Taxi, ☎ +31
35 772 07 77, [21]. edit
- Taxi
HTC BV, ☎ +31 35 678 25
65, [22]. edit
|
Willem Marinus Dudok
With a total of 75 designs in Hilversum alone, Dudok is the only
Dutch architect to put such a personal stamp on one particular
town. Hilversum has been called his life's work.
In 1905 he started his career in the Dutch army, but he spent most
of his spare time designing buildings. When Dudok became director
of Public Works in Hilversum in 1915, he started designing hundreds
of buildings and even entire neighborhoods. His job was his only
passion and every detail was carefully thought through. At first
Dudok followed the rational style of Hendrik Berlage, but later
designs show a distinct mix of styles with influences from Frank
Lloyd Wright.
|
There are so many modern architectural masterpieces in
Hilversum, it almost feels like an open air museum. However,
finding these buildings scattered all over the city can be a
frustrating experience. The modern architect W.M.
Dudok shaped most of 20th century Hilversum and
approximately 75 buildings still bear his stamp. Dudok's
distinctive mix of styles is heavily influenced by Nieuwe
Bouwen (New Building), also called New Objectivity, a radical
movement in urban architecture in the Netherlands, Germany and
France in the period 1915-1960. The best way to explore Dudok's
designs is by walking or biking the W.M. Dudok
Architectural Route, as explained in the Do-section. Start your
journey in the world of modern architecture with his masterpiece,
the Town Hall Hilversum.
- Town Hall Hilversum (Raadhuis Hilversum), Dudokpark 1,
☎ +31 35 629 28 26, [23]. This is unquestionably Dudok's masterpiece.
Built in 1928-1931, this building has wide international fame and
features in many architecture textbooks. The building has a
remarkable shape and feels like a combination of 'blocks'. It's
built with specifically designed yellow bricks that have a slightly
different size than traditional ones. Dudok is also responsible for
the interior, the furniture, the decorations and even the font.
Every Sunday at 2PM, there is a guided tour through the town hall
for €7.50. It is in Dutch, but the guide will also tell something
in English upon request. It gives you the chance to view some rooms
closed to the public, such as the marriage room and the mayor room.
You will also visit the Dudok Dependance, a permanent overview of
Dudoks life and work. At the end, you will climb the 46 meter tower
for a nice view of Hilversum and the surrounding areas. There are
special arrangements possible for groups. For bookings, call the
listed phone number or ask the staff of Museum Hilversum.
edit
- Dudok Dependance (Dudok Centre), Dudokpark 1, ☎ +31 35 629 28 26. W and Su noon-4.30PM. M-Tu, Th-Sa closed.
The Dudok Dependance is a separate part
of Hilversum's famous town hall, located in the basement of the
building. Administered by the Museum Hilversum, it is basically a
permanent overview of Dudoks life and work. There's also an
exposition on the renovation of the town hall, which took place
during 1989-1996. It took 5 years to restore the exterior and the
interior to their original state, which almost plunged the
municipality of Hilversum into bankruptcy. Keep in mind that it's
only opened on Wednesday and Sunday afternoon. edit
- Former AVRO Studios (Blue Circle), 's-Gravelandseweg 50-52, ☎ +31 35 678 50 00, [24]. The former AVRO-studios are the only buildings
in Hilversum to have a miniature copy in Madurodam, since the
miniature copy of Town Hall Hilversum burnt down. The studios were
designed by B. Merkelback and Ch.F. Karsten. Studio 1 opened in
1936, studio 2 in 1940 at the other side of the Melkpad road.
Studio 2 looks like a music box in the shape of the sound box of a
violin. Both buildings are connected with an underground tunnel.
Now it's the home of the tv-production company Blue Circle, but the
letters "AVRO" can still be seen if you look closely.
edit
- Gooiland, Emmastraat 2, ☎ +31 35 621 23 31, [25]. Designed by J. Duiker and B. Bijvoet and
completed in 1936, Gooiland is an exceptional example of the 'New
Style' architectural movement, listed in many architecture
textbooks. As it is a hotel, it's possible to spend the night here
if you wish. edit
- Kiosk, De Kei Square. This Kiosk looks like a design from Dudok, but
it's actually designed by Bakker and Bakker and completed in 1931.
Dudok's influence on these architects is clearly noticable. News
papers and tobacco used to be sold here, but now it only shows
touristic and cultural information on a computer screen. It was
fully renovated in 1998 for it's cultural and historic
value. edit
Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision
- Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision
(Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld en
Geluid), Sumatralaan 45 (Railway station Hilversum Noord),
☎ +31 35 629 21 11, [26].
This building from 2006 is interesting
for it's remarkable architecture, and even won the Dutch Golden
Pyramid award. Don't be fooled by it's size: it's actually twice as
massive, as half of the building is underground! One century of
Dutch television and radio archives are stored there. This colorful
'block' is a design of Jaap Drupsteen. The glass windows show
important moments in Dutch television history. Inside is an
interactive museum and a gigantic display of Dutch audiovisual
archives. However, you must have a profound interest in the Dutch
cultural heritage to be able to enjoy that as a foreigner.
edit
- Rainbow Church (Regenboogkerk), Nassaulaan 22, ☎ +31 35 624 50 47, [27]. Although a church, it doesn't look anything
like one from the outside. It's basically a giant gray block made
of glass. Designed in 2000 by architects Ben van Berkel and
Caroline Bos, who also designed the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam.
They used glass so the inside and the outside of the building don't
feel separated, while the inside retains it's intimite atmosphere
for religious ceremonies. edit
- RVU
Building, Sumatralaan 55 (Near the Netherlands Institute for Sound
and Vision), ☎ +31 35 677 14
00, [28]. RVU
is a public broadcasting organisation that is focused on educating
the public. They are located in a brown box-shaped building,
designed by MVRDV Architects in the early nineties. Postproduction
is done in the visible part of the building, while production
facilities are underground. edit
- Sanatorium Zonnestraal, Loosdrechtse Bos
5-21 (Bus 104,
Zonnestraal), ☎ +31 35 538 54
23 (conny.rijbroek@zonnestraal.org),
[29]. Located in a quiet forest
between Hilversum and Loosdrecht, this big estate is one of
Duiker's architectural marvels. It is one of the best examples of
the New Objectivity style. Zonnestraal consists of one large main
building, two smaller pavilions and some additional buildings that
were added later, like the Koepel, which now functions as a
visitors center. The buildings are made of concrete and glass, in
Duiker's typical colors of white, black and a specific kind of
light-blue called 'Duiker blue'. The best way to explore this
building is by taking the guided tour
[30]. Every last Sunday of the month, at noon and 2PM, you can
take a 90-minute tour around the estate, starting from the Koepel.
It's required to make a reservation by phone or e-mail. Cost is
€6.50, bring it with you in cash and hand it over to the guide when
the tour starts. edit
- Villa
VPRO, Sumatralaan 49 (Near the Netherlands Institute for Sound
and Vision), ☎ +31 35 671 29
11, [31]. VPRO
is a Dutch public broadcasting organisation with a
liberal-protestant background. Previously housed in a series of
classical villas in the leafy surroudings, in 1997 it moved to this
stunning architectural project by MVRDV Architects. Instead of
having regular corridors, it features large folding floorplates.
The floors seem fluid, not having a recognizable hierarchy. The
architects' goal was to show the distinct identity of the separate
content-based groups working in the building, as well as emphasize
the fluid identity they have with the whole organization.
edit
- Church of our Sweet Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk), Naarderstraat
106. Designed by architect
Wolter ter Riele, this church in neo-gothic style was completed in
1910. Especially pay attention to the 28 stained glass windows and
unique lay-out. edit
- Great Church (Grote
Kerk), Kerkbrink 4, ☎ +31 35 624 30 21, [32]. The medieval tower of this church is the oldest
remaining structure in Hilversum, as it originates from 1481. The
rest of the church was built in 1891 in neo-renaissance style. It
has a history of being the victim of fires a number of times. The
last fire was in 1971, after which the church was completely
restored. It can only be attended during religious
ceremonies. edit
Old Catholic Saint Vitus Church
- Old Catholic Saint Vitus Church (Oud-Katholieke Kerk St. Vitus), Melkpad 12,
☎ +31 35 685 98 10, [33]. Not to be confused with the Saint Vitus
Church, this church was built in 1889 by a design of architect
Weeldenburg. It's front shows an impressive neo-baroque style with
a dome on top. The interior features stained glass windows and
painted panels. It can only be visited on Wednesdays during summer
holidays, between noon and 2PM. edit
- Saint Vitus Church (St. Vituskerk), Emmastraat 5-7, ☎ +31 35 624 74 15, [34]. Completed in 1892, this Roman Catholic Church
devoted to Saint Vitus is one of the latest works of P.J.H.
Cuypers. One of the few buildings that has not become a victim of
the modern architecture wave of the 1920s, it's actually of a
neogothic style. With a height of 98 meters, this is the tallest
neogothic tower in the Netherlands. The previous church on this
location, also called Sint-Vitus Church, was too small to house
important ceremonies. The new church has a maximum capacity of 1800
people. It's acoustic quality has been praised, and it is often
used as a studio for Dutch television shows. edit
- Boomberg Park (Boombergpark). Between 1831 and 1841, artist Jan van
Ravenswaay bought several farm fields with financial support from
friends in Amsterdam. Together with his influential notary Albertus
Perk, he wanted to create a leafy hiking area through the heart of
Hilversum. The park can best be visited while taking the
Peerlkamp Route hiking trail. edit
- Bosdrift Cemetery (Begraafplaats Bosdrift), Bosdrift 12,
☎ +31 35 621 09 60. During daylight. The
garden around this cemetery was designed by the famous Dutch garden
architect Leonard Springer. Being more than 110 years old, it's in
the landscape style of garden design, a style that was
particularly popular in England. edit
- Costerus Garden, Zonnelaan 4z, ☎ +31 35 624 77 65, [35]. During daylight. Only a 10-minutes walk from the center, this
garden has been here for more than 80 years. Name tags are provided
for the 1200 different species of plants. edit
- Dudok
Park, Dudokpark 1. Located just south of the Town Hall Hilversum,
this small park gives a stunning view on that building. Also of
interest are the several modern bronze statues, like 'Boy with
Billy Goat', 1959, by Ton Sondaar-Dobbelman; 'Birds', 1964, by Eric
Claus; and 'The Actor', 1977, by Gabriel Sterk. edit
- De Hertenkamp Children's Farm, Hoge Naarderweg
205, ☎ +31 35 623 38
86, [36]. 10AM-4.30PM. Small
farm with plenty of animals, like birds, ducks, deer, sheep, goats,
cows, ponies, donkeys, rabbits, peacocks and chicken. Nice place to
bring the kids. Free entry.
edit
- Laapersveld Park, Laapersweg 1. The largest park in Hilversum and a nice place
to relax or work out. Once a year in the summer, fireworks are
lighted from here. The Laapersveld Pumping Station has
been created by Dudok and Meijer in the style of Amsterdam School.
It was used to drain rain and sewer water from the city into the
pond, and from there to the Old Harbor. edit
Wildlife Crossing Zanderij Crailo
- Old Harbor Park, Loosdrechtseweg 1. Only recently the Old Harbor turned into a park
with a brand new pedestrian path. It's best for walking as there
are no grassy areas to sit down. It's history starts in the 18th
century, when many rich Amsterdam traders bought villas in
's-Graveland. To connect it with Hilversum, a canal was dug, so
wool and turf could be transported. As Hilversum is located on a
hill, the canal had to be 15 meters deep. The Old Harbor was found
and in 1843 a wooden bridge was constructed, called dog bridge
(hondenbrug) as it was financed by dog taxes. In 1930 it
was replaced by the current stone bridge, designed by, who else,
Dudok. In 1936 a new harbor was created on the west-side of the
town and the Old Harbor decayed. It turned into a smelly and
useless swamp as dirty rain water from the Laapersveld was pumped
here. edit
- Pinetum Blijdensteijn, Van der Lindenlaan
125, ☎ +31 35 623 11
23 (info@pinetum.nl, fax: +31 35 624 77 87), [37]. M-F
9AM-4PM. This botanic garden is
one of the world's most important conifer collections. Founded by
B.W. Blijdenstein in the end of the 19th century, the garden hosts
plenty of rare and endangered species. There are gatherings of
cycads, palms, ephedras, Tasmanian flora and rhododendrons as
well. €2.50, Wednesdays free
entry. edit
- Rosarium, Boomberglaan. In the upscale Boomberg neighborhood, this park
offers several kinds of roses. A monument is placed for the victims
of World War II. edit
- Wildlife Crossing Zanderij Crailo. Located in the area between Hilversum and
Bussum, Zanderij Crailo is the largest wildlife crossing in the
world. Construction started in december 2002 and it was officially
opened by Queen Beatrix in 2006, costing approximately 15 million
euro. 800 meters in length and 50 meters in width, it connects
Spanderswoud forest with the Bussumerheide heath. By connecting the
larger areas of the Gooi forests and the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, the
crossing created the second largest connected nature area in the
Netherlands. It crosses over a railway, a road, a train maintenance
area and a sport park. There is a bike and pedestrian path
available over the wildlife crossing. edit
- The
Boulder (De Kei), 's-Gravelandseweg
12. Having a weight of
10.435 kg, the Boulder was found on the heath between Laren and
Hilversum. It was carried here from Scandinavia during the last Ice
Age. In 1921, a festive parade was organized when the Boulder was
moved to its current location in the center of town.
edit
The Laanstraat historic neighborhood, with the
Saint Vitus
Church in the background
- Laanstraat Historic Neighborhood (Historisch buurtje Laanstraat), Laanstraat
2a-b. This neighborhood of
about a dozen old houses has recently been completely restored. You
can walk through the area and take a look at the typical Dutch
houses. Nearby are some proper restaurants. edit
- Museum Hilversum, Kerkbrink 6, ☎ +31 35 629 28 26 (museumhilversum@hilversum.nl,
fax: +31 35 629 25 15), [38]. Tu-Sa 11AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM, M closed. Now the entrance of Museum Hilversum and the
tourist office, it was Hilversum's Town Hall in the period
1881-1931. It's a typical 19th-century building in neo-renaissance
style. The museum's permanent collection is about the history of
Hilversum after 1850. Sometimes they offer temporary exhibitions
about photography, modern architecture or the cultural history of
the Gooi area. €5. edit
- Old
Farm, Langestraat 103. Hilversum used to be an agricultural village,
and this old farm from 1767 is the last one to remain in the town
center. The building is in Hilversum Longhouse style, and it's one
of the few with a decorated clock gable. It now houses a sports
store. edit
- Sound and Vision Experience (Beeld en Geluid Experience), Sumatralaan
45, ☎ +31 35 677 55
55,
[39]. Tu-Su 10AM-7PM. Housed in the Netherlands Institute for
Sound and Vision building, this is an audiovisual museum about
the history of Dutch broadcasting. Old footage from television
shows and radio stations are up for display in 15 theme areas. Very
interesting for Dutch people, but you must have a profound interest
in the Dutch cultural heritage to enjoy this as a foreigner.
€13.50. edit
- The Spijker Houses (De
Spijkerpandjes), Kerkbrink 17-19, ☎ +31 35 621 22 11 (info@despijkerpandjes.nl),
[40]. daily 5PM-10PM. The
right building of the original Spijker Houses was a residential
house built in 1770, while the left one was a smithy built around
1880. Unfortunately, the original buildings were torn down, so all
that's left are these reconstructed ones. Jacobus Spyker lived in
these buildings, whose sons would later become famous with the
'Spyker' car brand. The buildings now function as cafe and
restaurant, featuring some interesting French menus (like snails as
a pre-appetizer and sea wolf or calf cheek as a main
course). edit
- The
Erfgooier, Kerkstraat. Bronze statue of an Erfgooier, completed in
1997 by Hans Bayens. Erfgooiers were descendents of people living
in the Gooi area many centuries ago. They were free farmers
organized as a cooperative, and had the rights to manage most of
the land in the Gooi area. Their property was sold in 1933 and 1973
to the Goois Natuurreservaat Foundation (GNR), which made an end to
the ancient common use of soil. edit
- GSA
Gallery, Langestraat 52, ☎ +31 35 623 71 21 (info@gsagalerie.nl), [41]. W-Sa
noon-5PM, Su 2PM-5PM. Plenty of
exhibitions for sculpture and other decorative arts, with a new
collection every month. Most of the works are for sale.
edit
- Meent Art Gallery, De Meent 11, ☎ +31 35 582 84 80, [42]. Located in Hilversume Meent, an outlying suburb
of Hilversum near Bussum. It's best to make a reservation at the
gallery's website if you are interesting in viewing or buying
arts. edit
- Motorbike, Wagenmakersplein. This work of art tries to do something new:
industrial design as a form of art. An Aprilia 6.5 motorbike is
displayed on a steel post in the sky of the square. It's made by
the French top designer Phillipe Stark and illuminated at
night. edit
- Stella, Weversplein. Italian for 'star', Stella is an artwork by the
Italian architect, designer and artist Alessandro Mendini. The
square it's located on is surrounded by a mix of modern and
historic buildings. edit
Do
Outdoors
Once called the Garden of Amsterdam, most
tourists come to Hilversum for a relaxing day off from the hectic
city. The best way to spend your time is by hiking or biking in the
forests and heathlands
surrounding the city.
Forests and heathlands
- Anna's Hoeve is a hilly area between Hilversum
and Baarn offering forests, ponds, heathland and grassy areas. It
is currently in a process of reconstruction, but is still
accessible for the public. The lakes and hills are created by large
masses of unemployed people in the Great Depression, as the
municipality of Hilversum tried to combat the high levels of
unemployment at that time. If you're up for it, go on to Baarn or
the Soestdijk Palace.
- Bussumerheide, Westerheide
and Zuiderheide are heathlands in the north of
Hilversum. The remains of a prehistoric civilization called
Hilversum Culture come from this area. Clearly visible in
the landscape are the 3000 to 4000 year old burial mounds. The
Aardjesberg, formed in the penultimate ice age, can be
recognized by a group of trees. In the last ice age, the
Netherlands probably was an arctic tundra. Remains of a levallois
arrow have been found here, which were probably used by
Neanderthals for mammoth hunting. Consider continuing your way to
Laren.
- Corversbos, the closest forest on the west
side of town. It's a bit bland and plenty of high school pupils use
it as a shortcut to school. It was created after World War II with
conifer trees and robinia flowers, which were widely available back
then. Interesting is a beekeeper place from the 19th century, where
you can see 40 to 60 beehives and the beekeepers' tools. You might
come across buzzards, green woodpeckers, goshawks and tawny owls.
Easy to combine with Gooilust or the Pinetum
Blijdensteijn.
- Gooilust (Zuidereinde 49, 's-Graveland) is a
typical summer residence of a wealthy trader family from the Dutch
Golden Age with an interesting history. It's enormous garden is a
must-visit with trees and plants from all over the world.
Previously it also held a wide collection of exotic mammals and
birds, but they moved in 1939. You could extend your trip to see
more of 's-Graveland and it's summer
residences.
- Hilversums Wasmeer is a forested lake with
interesting fauna. During warm days, insects from the odanata order
can be seen, like dragon flies and damselflies. There are plenty of
birds, like hobbies (falcons), as well as coots, tufted ducks,
pochards, shelducks, and, if lucky, eared grebes and little grebes.
From the south east side, you can have a great view on the
lake.
Heathland at Hoorneboegse Heide
- Hoorneboegse Heide is a heath that makes up
for most of the south. It's slightly sloping landschape was formed
in the penultimate ice age 150.000 years ago. The estate (and
conference center) Hoorneboeg is located on a hill and
gives great vistas over the heath. Sundays is a great day to head
through the Maartensdijkse Bos to Lage Vuursche for
traditional Dutch pancakes. Further options are the artificial
lakes and dykes in Loosdrecht and Loenen.
- Laarder Wasmeer (Laarder Waschmeer)
is a protected area and can only be partly accessed (in a guided
tour, see the Do
section). It has a combination of lakes, groups of trees and
limited sand storms. There are plans to open larger parts of the
area to the public in the future.
- Spanderswoud is an interesting forest on the
north side of town. Authorities have not interfered in natural
processes of the forest since the 1980s, which make it more
authentic. Several summer residences are at the west side of it,
while Trompenberg, one of the wealthiest and leafy
neighborhoods of the country, is at the south side. You can
continue to the Bussumerheide, Westerheide and
Zuiderheide by taking the Wildlife Crossing Zanderij
Crailo, the largest wildlife crossing in the world.
If you want to explore these areas, first head over to the
tourist office for some quality maps. It can be found at the
Kerkbrink, which also happens to be the beginning point for most
hiking and biking routes.
Hiking
If you want to go hiking, buy a map of a particular hike you are
interested in for around €1.50 at the tourist office. You can
always ask the staff for help, or let them choose a particular hike
for you. There are plenty of hiking trails available through
Hilversum or it's surroundings:
- W.M. Dudok Architectural Route — 10km; 3
hours. The best way to explore Dudok's highlights is by taking this
route. It is just a couple of hours and shows some important
buildings of the famous architect. Instead of re-doing everything
here, be sure to take a look at the brochure
[43], print it and bring it with you during the route. White
signs showing 'Dudok' show the way, but keep in mind that the route
of the signs is slightly different from the route of the
brochure. The route starts at Hilversum Town Hall.
If open, visit the Dudok Dependance for an overview of Dudok's life
and work. Then start the route, which shows the following buildings
in this order: Multatuli School, Snellius School,
Rembrandt School, Fabritius School,
Bosdrift, Geranium School and Bathhouse.
Other buildings are listed as optional in the brochure. They are
just as interesting, but are located slightly further away. They
are best visited separately by bike: Northern Cemetery,
Laapersveld Pumping Station, Wildschut Sports
Pavilion, Grandstand and Zuiderhof
Cemetery.
- Corversbos Route — 5km; 1 hour. Probably the
easiest route, and even accessible for wheel chairs. Signs show the
way, you will see a 19th century place with beehives.
- Goois Natuurreservaat Hiking Trail — 25km; 6
hours. This trail is basically a large circle around the entire
town. It was designed in 1938 as going through forests and heath
only, but as Hilversum expanded, it also goes through a limited
amount of urban areas. More information in the guidebook
Voetstappenpad, available for €1.60 at the tourist
office.
- Laarder Wasmeer Guided Tour — 5km; 2 hours.
Probably the only way to access the protected area of Laarder
Wasmeer. It's organized every first Sunday of the month at 10AM. It
starts at the Meerweg and will take you to lakes, limited
sandstorms and an old bird hut for birdwatching.
- Peerlkamp Route — 7km; 2 hours. This trail is
steeper and thus slightly more challenging. It's a hilly route
through Hilversum itself and combines parks, gardens and the
Corversbos. If you want, you can walk back to the center through
the Old Harbor Park.
Biking
For cycling, the easiest map is the Toeristische
Fietsroutekaart Gooi en Vechtstreek eo (Touristic Biking Route
Map Gooi and Vecht Region and Surroundings) for €4. It covers 4
cycling routes through Hilversum and the Gooi area. Unfortunately, the map
misses out on the popular towns Baarn and Lage Vuursche, as they
are not a part of North-Holland. Another map is the
Utrechtse Heuvelrug en Vechtse Plassen (Utrecht Hill
Ridge and Vecht and Lakes) map for €8, which
features a wider area, but does not include any pre-made routes, so
you have to make your own route (most locals do this, it can easily
be done with a little research). Of course you can get both maps if
you want to be well-prepared. Both are in Dutch and in English, and
the routes are clearly marked. Just as with hiking, you can also
ask the staff for advice, as they have dozens of different maps for
sale. Most biking routes do not just feature Hilversum, but also
include many other villages in the Gooi and Vecht Region:
- Gooi Richness Route (Gooise
Rijkdomroute) — 33km; 3 hours. Start cycling at the Kerkbrink
in the center of Hilversum. You will cycle through heathland to
Blaricum and Laren, two of the
wealthiest villages of the Netherlands with plenty of villas,
wealthy society, expensive cars, expensive brands and the like.
Then cycle over the wildlife crossing Zanderij Crailo to
Spanderswoud forest, and go on to 's-Graveland with plenty of expensive
summer residences from the Dutch Golden Age (such as Gooilust with
an impressive garden). Then go back to Hilversum via the Corversbos
forest. The route is featured in the Toeristische
Fietsroutekaart Gooi en Vechtstreek eo.
- Lakes Route (Plassenroute) — 41km; 4
hours. This route shows artificial lakes, most of them created
through the extraction of peat for fuel. From Hilversum, cycle
through the Corversbos and Kortenhoef on to Vreeland, passing the
Loosdrecht Lakes (Loosdrechtse plassen). Cycle north along
the Vecht to Nigtevecht and on to the historic center of Weesp. The route further extends
south through the Ankeveen Lakes (Ankeveense plassen), and
from there head back to Hilversum. The route is featured in the
Toeristische Fietsroutekaart Gooi en Vechtstreek eo,
though this one is slightly modified.
- Royal Route (Koninklijke route) —
25km; 3 hours. The 'royal' route goes through forestland and shows
the Soestdijk Palace, the former residence of Queen Juliana. The
route also passes Queen Beatrix' castle Drakensteyn, but
unfortunately it cannot be seen as it is not open to the public.
Start in Hilversum and cycle east, passing the Laarder Wasmeer and
Anna's Hoeve, to the wealthy town Baarn. Then cycle south to the
Soestdijk Palace, and from there, west to Lage Vuursche through the
castle Drakensteyn area. Eat a pancake in one of the quality
restaurants, and go west, pass the A27 motorway and make your way
back to Hilversum through the Hoorneboegse Heide. This is a custom
route not featured in any guide, but you can plan it yourself with
the Utrechtse Heuvelrug en Vechtse Plassen map.
- Villages Route (Dorpenroute) — 30km;
3 hours. This route shows forests, heathland and the traditional
villages Laren and Lage
Vuursche. It starts in Hilversum and goes through Corversbos,
Spanderswoud, wildlife crossing Zanderij Crailoo and the
Westerheide to Laren. Laren is one of the wealthiest villages of
the Netherlands, with large villas and high society passing by.
From there, cycle on through Zuiderheide to Lage Vuursche, which is
a popular village among cyclists for it's quality pancake
restaurants. Then head your way to Hilversum through the
Hoorneboegse Heide, passing over the A27 motorway. This is a custom
route not featured in any guide, but you can plan it yourself with
the Utrechtse Heuvelrug en Vechtse Plassen map.
When cycling in the outlying forests and heathlands, follow the
mushroom-shaped signs for directions. In 1919, the first
mushroom-shaped sign was placed in the forest between Hilversum and
Baarn, but now they are placed in nature areas all over the
country. Also bring some food and drinks with you, especially when
it's warm, as there are no restaurants or coffee houses in
protected nature areas.
Media
Hilversum is the media capital of the
Netherlands, and many locals finish their trip to Hilversum by
attending a television show. As all the shows are
in Dutch, you might want to attend an international format.
Studio 22 (Sumatralaan 45) is the largest
television studio of Europe with a size of almost 3000
square meters and a capacity of 600 visitors. It's the host to a
wide arrange of formats, like Idols (RTL4),
Popstars (SBS6) and X Factor (RTL4). Next to it
is Studio 24 (Sumatralaan 45), the second largest
television studio of the continent. There you can visit
Holland's Got Talent, Stars Dancing on Ice or
The Next Uri Geller (all SBS6). Before attending, see
which shows are available at the program's website and make a
reservation. At the day of broadcasting, make sure you arrive at
least 30 minutes before the beginning of the program and bring
proper identification papers with you.
Broadcasting organizations:
- Netherlands Public Broadcasting
(Nederlandse Publieke Omroep) [44].
- RTL Netherlands (RTL Nederland) [45].
- SBS Broadcasting Group [46].
Sports
Due to the wealthy demographic, Hilversum is an excellent place
for golf. Other activities include bowling, indoor
climbing, indoor skiing, pool and mountain biking.
- Bowlingcentrum Hilversum, Noordsebosje
25, ☎ +31 35 624 63
02 (info@bowlinghilversum.nl),
[47]. 2PM-midnight. Decent
bowling center, but sometimes the machines break down. Make sure to
make a reservation by phone first. €18-€23 per hour. edit
- Fortuna's Poolgarden, Emmastraat 2, ☎ +31 35 623 58 91. daily 1PM-midnight. They have about 10 pool tables available.
Making a reservation is not required. €10 per hr before 6PM, €20 per hr after 6PM.
edit
- Golfclub Spandersbosch, Sportpark Crailoo
26, ☎ +31 35 685 73
28 (info@golfparkspandersbosch.nl),
[48]. 9PM-8PM. This golf
course is a bit less fancy, but still top-notch. Only the Crailoo
Course is available, the Boschbaan is reserved for members. You
will play 2 times 9 holes, so 18 holes together. Make sure to call
and ask for information first. 22.50 EUR
daily, 15 EUR after 5PM. edit
- Hilversumsche Golfclub, Soestdijkerstraatweg
172, ☎ +31 35 683 88
59, [49]. M-F 9AM-4PM. Opened
in 1910, it is one of the oldest golf clubs in the Netherlands and
has hosted the Dutch Open 25 times. Famous players like Seve
Ballesteros, Bernhard en Miguel Angel Jimenez won the cup on these
fields. Maarten Lafeber wrote history on these fields in 2003, as
he was the second Dutch player ever to win the cup. You can only
play here on weekdays, make sure to dress properly. 125 EUR daily. edit
- RockSteady Climbing and Outdoors Center,
Zanderijweg 12-14,
Bussum, ☎ +31 35 692 50 00
(climbing), +31 35 692 50 15 (skiing) (info@rocksteady.nl), [50]. M-Tu, Th-F 4PM-10.30PM, W 1.30PM-10.30PM, Sa
11AM-6PM, Su 11AM-10.30PM. Technically in Bussum, it's actually in the
forested area between that town and Hilversum. You're at the right
place here for extreme sports. Wall climbing, bouldering (climbing
without a rope), indoor skiing and mountain biking can all be done.
It's accessible for beginners as well as experts. €15/30 mins. edit
- Gooisch Poppentheater Hilvert's Hofje, Hilvertshof, Groest
86, ☎ +31 35 526 41
94, [52].
W, F-Sa 2PM. Children's theater, only has one performance on
Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. €5.50. edit
- JT
City Cinema, Herenstraat 12, ☎ +31 35 624 66 00, [53]. M-Tu 7PM-9PM, W, Su 1PM-5.30PM, 7PM-9PM, Th-F
6PM-10PM. €8. edit
- JT
Euro Cinema, Naarderstraat 8, ☎ +31 35 624 65 00, [54]. M-Tu 7PM-9PM, W, Su 1PM-5.30PM, 7PM-9PM, Th-F
6PM-10PM. €8. edit
- Theater Achterom, Eemnesserweg 7a, ☎ +31 35 623 39 93, [55]. M-F 10AM-3PM. Definitely the best theater of Hilversum, it
features cabaret, dance, music and drama. The theater is open in
the early afternoons for buying tickets, while the show usually
perform in the late afternoon or evening. €8-€13. edit
- Theater Gooiland, Emmastraat 2, ☎ +31 35 621 23 31, [56].
With a variable schedule, it's best to
check the website for upcoming performances and times. €15-€30. edit
- Nike Hilversum CityRun, Groest, [58]. Mid-April, cheer for the thousands of
participants of the several running events around the town. Just
don't visit by car as many roads will be closed. edit
- Hilversum Funfair, Langgewenst. Late-April, take one of the thrill rides or buy
some candy. edit
- Queen's Day, Groest. April 30, some outside events are planned
during Queen's Day, the national holiday, but don't expect a total
chaos like Amsterdam. If
you want to go out, make sure you buy tickets beforehand else you
might not get in anywhere. edit
- Amateur Art Day, Dudokpark 1. Early-June, starting Fridaynight at 8.30PM,
numerous amateur artists do free performances at the Dudok Park
near the Town Hall. The next day it continues from noon till 6PM,
with 6 podia of dancers, musicians, orchestras, comedy and the
like. edit
- Hilversum Alive, Groest, [59]. Late-June, definitely the most important
festival, and with three days the longest, crowds from all over the
country come to Hilversum for this event. The bars work together to
set up plenty of podia around the Groest area, with famous Dutch
musicians performing. Avoid if you don't like crowded
events. edit
- Hilversum on Air, Groest. Late-August, very similar to Hilversum Alive,
it was actually set up to replace Alive when it was cancelled once.
Big difference is that the media play a more important role here,
as radio stations and other media finance the event.
edit
- Arena
Games, Arena
103, [60]. Mid-September, an international track and field
athletics event. edit
- Gooi en Eemland Art Fair, Arena 303,
☎ +31 35 628 51 43, [61]. Late-September, fair for modern and
contemporary arts. €7. edit
Buy
At first sight, shopping in Hilversum might feel generic and
uninspiring. But if you know where to find the hidden gems, you
might find out what dozens of Dutch celebrities already know:
Hilversum is hot and trendy. The town actually received an award
for being the third most varied shopping area of the country, but
expect a heavy emphasis on clothing and
accessories, especially for women. Upscale and
cheap, generic and exclusive, luxury brands and vintage, all is
available in walking distance.
At Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, stores open from 10AM till
6PM. The best day for shopping is Thursday, as the shops then open
till 9PM. Mondays, the shops open late at 1PM and close at 6PM.
Saturdays are the most crowded with opening times from 10AM till
5PM. The shops are closed on Sundays, except for some specified
'Buy Sundays' (Koopzondagen), mostly clustered around the
holidays in December.
Hilvertshof Shoppingcentre
The easiest entry point is Hilvertshof
Shoppingcentre [62] and the connected
Kerkstraat, though they make for quite a generic
shopping experience. Hilvertshof was opened in 1973 as the first
covered shopping center of the Netherlands, and it's still one of
the largest of the country. The big department stores Vroom
& Dreesmann and Hema are present, as
well as worldwide chain stores Douglas,
Hennis & Mauritz, Mango,
Sephora and Zara.
From there, you can take a stroll to the Gooische Brink
Shopping Center [63] for upscale shopping
or to the Leeuwenstraat for vintage clothing. The
general market takes place on Wednesdays and
Saturdays at Langgewenst, between 9AM and 4PM. On Wednesdays, the
market generally sells non-food products, while Saturdays are known
for vegetables, fruit, fish and other fresh groceries.
The next sections reveal some smaller stores you might not have
thought of.
Boutiques
Due to the wealthy demographic and the presence of Dutch
celebrities, Hilversum is an excellent place for upscale shopping.
The place to be is Gooische Brink Shopping Center,
which is actually not more than an open square connected with a
small covered path. Due to the high prices, it might feel a bit
empty in this area, but some of the most trendy boutiques can be
found here. Don't expect any discount!
- Blanche, Wagenmakersplein 3, ☎ +31 35 622 10 10, [64]. M
1PM-6PM, Tu-W, F 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-9PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su
closed. This women's fashion store
is located a bit further away from Gooische Brink, but does deserve
it's place in the list for the fair share of exclusive brands
available. Especially their Danish design labels are interesting,
but they also have labels from Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and
elsewhere in Europe. edit
- De
Bunker, Kerkstraat 63-3/4, ☎ +31 35 623 59 48, [65]. M
1PM-6PM, Tu-W, F 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-9PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su
closed. Very trendy shop,
especially for wealthier younger audiences between the ages of 15
and 25. De Bunker-branded handbags are worn by hipsters all over
the country. Some of it's brands are BlueBlood, Diesel, Fornarina,
Hugo Boss, Indian Rose, J.C. Crags and more. edit
- Covergirl & Touchdown (CVRGRL & TCHDWN), Kerkstraat
63-19/21, ☎ +31 35 623 41
70. M 1PM-6PM, Tu-W, F 10AM-6PM,
Th 10AM-9PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su closed. Fashion boutique for young and trendy women.
Expect brands like Armani, Antony Morato, Dolce & Gabbana,
Ibana Rouge, Le Temps des Cherises, Miss Sixty and more.
edit
- Differenza, Gooische Brink 38, ☎ +31 35 640 02 43, [66]. M
1PM-6PM, Tu-W, F 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-9PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su
closed. Following the latest
fashion trends, it's a typical women clothing boutique for the
area. It features trendy Danish clothing brands like Vero Moda and
Vila, as well as other brands like Pieces and Only. edit
- Duetz Menswear, Kerkstraat 63-6, ☎ +31 35 628 03 30, [67]. M 1PM-6PM,
Tu-W, F 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-9PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su closed. Upscale store for men's fashion, mostly suits.
Tommy Hilfiger, Gant, Burberry, Corneliani and Ralph Lauren are
some of the brands. edit
- Fastenau, 's-Gravelandseweg 5a, ☎ +31 35 624 94 08, [68]. M 1PM-6PM, Tu-W, F 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-9PM, Sa
10AM-5PM, Su closed. A combination
of women's clothing and designer products. They have a wide
selection of trendy Scandinavian clothing, as well as exclusive
design products from Italy, Denmark, Finland and Germany, with
brands like Stelton, Alessi, Arabia-Iittala, Georg Jensen and
Zack. edit
- Toute Fabienne, 's-Gravelandseweg 14a, ☎ +31 35 640 02 43, [69]. M 1PM-6PM, Tu-W, F 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-9PM, Sa
10AM-5PM, Su closed. This is the
best place if you want to go home in style. Some of Holland's
biggest stars are known to browse here, such as Froukje de Both,
and the Dutch fashion show Passion for Fashion also
visited. Some of their brands are particularly exclusive, such as
Atos Lombardini, Lotus London, Malene Birger and PRC.
edit
Vintage
Instead of buying what everyone else is buying, vintage shopping
is becoming more and more popular. Vintage shoppers make themselves
stand out from the rest by combining different styles of used
clothes. Hilversum is a particularly good place for vintage, as the
Leeuwenstraat is a great place for finding cheap
used clothes. This street has recently lived up due to the opening
of Vintage (previously called Hollywood), a
must-visit for vintage lovers.
- Bibak
Jeans, Leeuwenstraat 31, ☎ +31 35 621 13 46. M 1PM-6PM, Tu-W, F 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-9PM, Sa
10AM-5PM, Su closed. Browse the
mostly riveted American jeans to find one that fits your style. You
might find the bargain you're looking for. edit
- Platenhuis 't Oor, Leeuwenstraat 44, ☎ +31 35 621 65 79, [70]. M 1PM-6PM, Tu-W, F 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-9PM, Sa
10AM-5PM, Su closed. Used record
store with mostly urban music, like reggae and hiphop. Also has a
limited selection of vinyls. You can ask the staff if you are
looking for a specific cd or vinyl. edit
- 't
Oortje, Leeuwenstraat 41, ☎ +31 35 621 97 25, [71]. M 1PM-6PM, Tu-W, F 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-9PM, Sa
10AM-5PM, Su closed. This shop has
many different styles available, like punk, rock'n roll, flower
power, skate and gothic. Many clothes come from England, with
brands like Overzeas, King Louie, Chenasky, Spank and Custo.
edit
- Vintage (Previously
Hollywood), Leeuwenstraat 39a, ☎ +31 6 283 265 30. M 1PM-6PM, Tu-W, F 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-9PM, Sa
10AM-5PM, Su closed. Best place to
browse for cheap used clothes. Some extravagant lamps bright up the
place, and the employees are glad to help you pick. There is a wide
selection of shoes, tops, accessories and more. edit
- ANWB,
Noordse Bosje
1, ☎ +31 35 624 17
51, [72]. M 1PM-6PM,
Tu-W, F 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-9PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su closed. Shop for travellers. They have everything, from
travel guides to first aid packs and from camping gear to travel
insurance. They also have excellent hiking and cycling guides for
the Gooi area. edit
- De Globetrotter, Groest 29, ☎ +31 35 624 39 25, [73]. M 1PM-6PM, Tu-W, F 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-9PM, Sa
10AM-5PM, Su closed. This store
sells small handmade tribal objects, like instruments, paintings,
accessories and furnitures. The focus is on Aboriginal Australian,
Native American and Far Eastern cultures. Some of the gypsy clothes
they sell are even considered trendy. edit
- De Hilversumse Boekhandel, Leeuwenstraat
36, ☎ +31 35 623 31
31, [74]. M 1PM-6PM, Tu-W, F 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-9PM, Sa
10AM-5PM, Su closed. One of the
better bookshops in the town, it has as a travel and English
literature section. Also plenty of books about Hilversum and the
Gooi area. edit
- Toko
Mee Sin, Hilvertshof, Groest 86 B 58,
☎ +31 35 623 35 05. M 1PM-6PM, Tu-W, F 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-9PM, Sa
10AM-5PM, Su closed. This shop has
a wide range of Eastern spices, like more than 60 different kinds
of sambal. They also sell many kinds of exotic snacks. Ask the
staff what you are buying, or you might be in for a surpise!
edit
- Van Beek's Rijwielhandel, Herenstraat
73, ☎ +31 35 628 43
34, [75]. Tu-W,
F 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-9PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su-M closed. Hilversum is a great place for biking, this is
a good place for repairs and accessories. If you bring your bike in
the morning, it will be repaired in the late afternoon, and you get
a temporary bike for the day. edit
- Wereldwinkel, Schoutenstraat 3, ☎ +31 35 621 98 10, [76]. M 1PM-6PM, Tu-W, F 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-9PM, Sa
10AM-5PM, Su closed. As the name
suggests, this is a 'world store'. Instead of focusing on rampant
consumerism, this store cares about respect for mankind and the
environment. It only buys products from third world countries for a
'fair price'. With this philosophy, buying here could improve the
living standards of poor societies elsewhere. edit
- Apolonia, Spoorstraat 20, ☎ +31 35 623 49 97, [77]. Su-Th 2PM-1AM, F-Sa 2PM-3AM. A cheap Argentinian/Egyptian restaurant. Don't
expect luxury cuisine here, but good meat for a good price. It's
especially a nice place for small dishes, like steaks, shawarma and
döner kebab. The tables can be sticky though. At Fridays and
Saturdays, the official closing time is 3AM, but it often stays
open till 4AM or later. That makes it a great place for eating
shawarma with pita bread after the bars close. €5-10. edit
- Atlanta Pizzeria en Grillroom, Leeuwenstraat
27, ☎ +31 35
6216572. Su-Th 10AM-1AM, F-Sa
10AM-3AM. Don't expect a full meal
here, just a quick snack in a greasy place. Their focus is on
Italian pizzas and shawarma, but try the the Lahmacun with döner
(often called 'Turkish pizza' in the Netherlands). It's quite
expensive still, but worth it. A good place to eat at night
time. €5. edit
- Italia Qualita, Langestraat 55a, ☎ +31 35 623 12 32. daily 2PM-10PM. An
Italian restaurant with delivery service. It's cheap, but
qualita certainly doesn't concern the food, which is
pretty awful. €10. edit
- Lorenza, Langestraat 134, ☎ +31 35 624 10 37. 4PM-10PM. Relatively
cheap Italian restaurant, but don't expect a lot. The pizzas are
greasy, salty and sometimes even served with wrong ingredients. The
interior is in need of a redesign and the staff is not very
welcoming. €10-15. edit
- Toko Take-a-Wok, Leeuwenstraat 24, ☎ +31 35 622 30 53, [78]. M-Sa noon-10PM, Su 4PM-9PM. No seating, but they do have take out and
delivery services of several Asian dishes, like wok menus, soup and
dimsum-snacks. You can even order 5 meni egg rolls for €1,
but don't expect a smile if you're coming for just that.
€5-10. edit
- Victor Consael, Leeuwenstraat 49, ☎ +31 35 621 42 39, [79]. Tu-W, F-Sa 11AM-7PM, Th 11AM-8PM, Su-M closed.
Nice budget restaurant if you want to try
authentic Dutch pancakes. Ask Chris the owner to order for you if
you want a true Dutch experience. Their (also typical Dutch)
poffertjes are a special treat paired with cappuccino. €10. edit
- Brasserie Docks, Havenstraat 15, ☎ +31 35 623 56 00, [80]. M, W-Su 6PM-11PM, Tu closed. Good restaurant with a trendy and upscale
interior. The choice is food is rather limited, but that's fine, as
it tastes good and the service is excellent. Especially ask for the
winelist, the Australian wines are a specialty. €30. edit
- Chiang
Mai, Havenstraat 20, ☎ +31 35 624 81 91, [81]. Tu-Su 5PM-10PM, M closed. Proper Thai restaurant in the area, it's
specialized in the cuisine of Northern Thailand. The place has the
usual Thai dishes, but also some interesting ones with rabbit and
turkey. Good service and relatively cheap prices, but expect a bad
interior with fluorescent lamps. €15-25. edit
- Da
Familia (Previously BENK),
Kerkbrink
2, ☎ +31 35 623 33
61 (info@benkhilversum.nl,
fax: +31 35 640 05 90), [82]. Tu-Th 10AM-11PM, F-Sa 10AM-midnight, M closed.
A mix of international cuisines, this
place is standing out from the rest with it's hip and trendy
interior. Some of the ordered food can be in rather small amounts
though. €25-35. edit
|
De Jonghe Graef van Buuren
William V was a young prince and the last stadtholder of the
Dutch Republic in the late 18th century. As believed, he was riding
his horse on his way to Amsterdam to deliver an important message.
Due to lightning and heavy rain, he was forced to spend the night
in Hilversum, in what is now restaurant De Jonghe Graef van Buuren.
As usual, Prince Willem V was travelling incognito, using the name
"Van Buuren". The owner of the inn quickly found out that the man
had a royal background. He was honored and asked if it was allowed
to name the inn after him. Since then, it bare the name 'De Jonghe
Graef van Buuren' (The Young Prince van Buuren). The bed Willem V
spent the night in is still on the exact same location.
|
- De Jonghe Graef van Buuren, Laanstraat
37, ☎ +31 35 624 54
02, [83]. daily
4PM-10PM. Old-style restaurant
with an interesting history. Good place to have an easy dinner with
fries and mayonnaise. €20.
edit
- De
Kei, 's-Gravelandseweg 12d, ☎ +31 35 624 72 77, [84]. Tu-Th, Su 3PM-1AM, F 3PM-3AM, Sa noon-7PM, M
closed. A typical "brown cafe"
mostly known for it's simple and tasty menus. It's especially
recommended to visit their wine tasting sessions. At the late
evening, you can have a beverage as the place turns into a
bar. €7-30. edit
- Kimono, Kampstraat 41, ☎ +31 35 629 51 97, [85]. daily 4PM-11PM. Entertaining Japanese restaurant, as the chefs
really do their best to put up a good show. That makes it a good
place to bring kids. Nice staff, good food, not expensive.
€18. edit
- King's IJscafe, Emmastraat 2, ☎ +31 35 624 17 88, [86]. daily 10.30AM - 10.30PM. Most popular place to eat ice cream. Must-try
flavor is the "stroopwafel", which is a traditional Dutch waffle
with a syrup filling. It's not cheap though. €7 each. edit
- De Lamme Goedtsack, Kampstraat 22, ☎ +31 35 623 14 78, [87]. Tu-F 2PM-10PM, Sa-Su 4PM-10PM, M closed. Proper French/Mediterranean restaurant with a
friendly staff. Try the carpaccio. €25. edit
- Mangerie, Diependaalselaan 490-494
(Bus 104, Zuiderheide), ☎ +31 35 672 07 84, [88]. W-M
13PM-10PM, Tu closed. One of the
best Chinese restaurants in town, and not a typical one. It's
definitely high-class with the French wine list as one of it's
features. The staff is professional and the food is delicious. Try
the Peking Duck. €30. edit
- Lust,
Langestraat
94, ☎ +31 35 624 30
44 (fax:
+31 35 624 42 49), [89]. Tu-Su 5PM-10PM, M closed. This restaurant with international menus is
based in a historic building from 1902. Go upstairs to lounge or
downstairs for an interior like a small village in France. Try the
"Lusterijen", a plate filled with a couple of smaller dishes,
served with a suitable wine. €35.
edit
- Proeverij De Open Keuken, Laanstraat
31, ☎ +31 35 623 07
77, [90]. daily 5PM-10PM. Excellent restaurant with an international
cuisine. Good service and a wide array of tapas to choose
from. €15-20. edit
- Puur
Smaeck, Kampstraat 18-20, ☎ +31 35 623 25 40, [91]. daily 11.30AM-1AM. At lunchtime, handicapped people will be
waitressing in this French/Mediterranean restaurant. You will be
surprised by their service and kindness. It's the best time to
visit, as the bread they serve is very tasty. At dinnertime the
regular staff takes over. lunch €5-8,
dinner €15-20. edit
- Robert, Spanderslaan 1, ☎ +31 35 62 456 95 (info@restaurantrobert.nl),
[92]. Tu-F noon-10PM, Sa 6.30PM-10PM, Su-M closed.
Interesting French restaurant in the
middle of the Spanderswoud forest, only accessible by car or bike.
The food is not original, but has a good quality and taste. Sit
outside when the weather allows it. €35. edit
- Surya, Langestraat 126, ☎ +31 35 631 94 20, [93]. Tu-Su 5PM-midnight, M closed. Indian and Nepalese restaurant with an absolute
stunning interior. Everyone is sitting on benches with pillows,
which makes for a very warm atmosphere, and the walls are decorated
with Buddha images. The staff is friendly, lots of menus to choose
from and the food is served in large quantities. Try the Gulab
Jamin, it's good. €20. edit
- Las
Tapas, Havenstraat 18b, ☎ +31 35 622 08 48, [94]. daily
5PM-11.30PM. Very popular Spanish
tapas restaurant. The menu is in Dutch, so hard to read for
foreigners, but the staff will gladly help you with ordering. The
garlic bread, artichoke and feta salad, garlic prawns, sautéed
mushrooms, bruschetta with feta and pine nuts are tasty. The bill
is cheap for the amount of food served. They only accept
cash. €20. edit
- Tokyo, Havenstraat 1, ☎ +31 35 628 61 29, [95]. M-Th 4PM-11PM, F-Sa 2PM-11PM, Su noon-11PM.
The best Japanese restaurant in town with
impressive paintings on the walls. The staff are friendly and
dressed in Japanese style. Try the Californian handroll or the
teppan yaki meals. €20. edit
- VolDaan, Jan van der Heijdenstraat 42,
☎ +31 35 683 94 38, [96]. W-Su 5PM-10PM, M-Tu closed. This French restaurant was a participant of the
television show "Restaurant Makeover" on channel NET5, and well,
the makeover worked. It might feel a bit cramped, but the new
interior is absolutely stunning with a cosmopolitan/hip style and a
lounge corner. The staff is professional and very helpful.
€30. edit
- Brasserie No. 33 (Drie&Dertig), Vaartweg 33, ☎ +31 35 621 45 56, [97]. Tu-F noon-23PM, Sa 5.30PM-11.30PM, Su 5.30PM-10PM, M
closed. High-class restaurant
specialized in French and Mediterranean cuisine. They know what
style is, as seen in the trendy interior, which gives a warm
atmosphere. €35. edit
- Brasserie De Jonge Haan, 's-Gravelandseweg
62, ☎ +31 35 624 53
14, [98]. M-F
9AM-midnight, Sa-Su noon-midnight. This is the most upscale brasserie of Hilversum
and the best place to run into Dutch celebrities. It is listed 57th
in the Top 100 Best Dutch Cafes of the magazine Horeca Misset. At
any time of the day you can walk in for coffee or tea, accompanied
with a muffin or pie. The interior looks professional and the Dutch
word gezellig (nice and cozy) definitely applies here.
Sitting outside is nice during summertime, as a breezy green
neighborhood is outside. Eating dinner is possible, but waiting
queues take ages and the food quality is poor. €15-30. edit
- Lakes Restaurant, Vreelandseweg 50 (Bus 1, De Waaier), ☎ +31 35 577 99 96 (info@restaurantlakes.nl,
fax: +31 35 623 83 63), [99]. M-F noon-2.30PM, 6PM-10.30PM, Sa 6PM-10.30PM, Su
closed. Based in one of Dudok's
designs, French restaurant Lakes is probably the most expensive and
luxury of Hilversum. The black and silver colors give the interior
a stunning hip-chique atmosphere. It's location at the water
enhance the experience, as well as the excellent service and
winelist. Be ready to pay. €60.
edit
- Royal Mandarin, Emmastraat 9, ☎ +31 35 640 08 01, [100]. daily 1.30PM-11PM. This Chinese restaurant is interestingly based
in a historic Dutch farm. The staff is really friendly and
sometimes the first round of drinks are free of charge. The
restaurant is pretty expensive, but worth it. A good suggestion is
the Beijing Duck. €40. edit
- Zilt
& Zo, Laanstraat 35a, ☎ +31 35 628 14 93 (info@ziltenzo.nl,
fax: +31 35 623 10 26), [101]. daily
5PM-10PM. Excellent restaurant
with a mixed international cuisine. The focus is on French and
Mediterranean seafood, but plenty of meat menus are available as
well. The interior is stunning, which resembles a harbor, even with
sand on the floor. The staff serve the dishes with care and seem to
love their job. Finish it with a choice from their worldwide wine
list. €33-50. edit
Entering bars is legally allowed from the age of
16. However, many bars and clubs in Hilversum have
their own policies and do not allow people under 18, 21 or even 23
to enter. Keep in mind that people aged 16 or 17 are only allowed
to drink beer, wine and mixed drinks like Bacardi Breezer and
Smirnoff Ice. To drink stronger alcoholic beverages, like vodka, an
age of 18 or older is required.
Most bars and clubs in Hilversum are centered around the
Groest. There is something for everyone here, from
youth bars to bars for older ages, and from typical Dutch 'brown
cafes' to upscale cosmopolitan places. On weekdays and Sundays,
bars are open till 1AM, while some clubs will be opened a bit
longer. Fridays and Saturdays have longer opening hours, bars will
be open till 3AM, while clubs will close at 5AM.
Always bring your passport or official identity papers, as many
bars and clubs require you to show it among entry. Also keep in
mind that smoking is only allowed in designated smoking areas, and
that bar employees won't serve drinks to you in these areas. Be
aware on the streets when the bars close as people are drunk and
often looking for trouble. Walking around with alcoholic beverages
on the Groest can get you a fine of €60.
- Dudok, Larenseweg 1a, ☎ +31 35 642 08 51, [102]. M-Th
11AM-1AM, F 11AM-2AM, Sa 12AM-2AM, Su 12AM-10PM. Visit this place at daytime, after a tour of
Hilversum's architectural highlights. The interior is in the same
style as the famous architect W.M. Dudok. Lunch and dinner are
served, and are not expensive. At daytime, the music is a
combination of classic, like Chopin and Vivaldi, and jazz. At
nighttime, the music is more diverse, with a combination of salsa
and rock. Sunday afternoons have tango as the style of
choice. edit
- 't
Tolhuis, Soestdijkerstraatweg 2, ☎ +31 35 621 44 81 (info@hettolhuis.nl, fax: +31 35 623 12 02), [103]. M-F
4PM-1AM, Sa-Su closed. Opened
since 1901, this cafe has a long history behind it's name. It
started as a toll booth, but as toll did not exist anymore since
1898, it was turned into a shop for milk trade. Due to the
strategic location, at the main road to Hilversum, it was set up as
a road cafe for thirsty horse riders. It has been a road cafe ever
since and it's still a nice place to order a coffee or beer. Don't
expect to be served here on Saturdays or Sundays, as it's closed in
weekends! edit
- De
Baron, Spoorstraat 47, ☎ +31 35 623 13 36 (info@cafedebaron.nl), [104]. Su-Th till 1AM, F-Sa till 3AM. Rock bar with pool table and darts. Not very
crowded on Saturdays. edit
- Cartouche, Stationsstraat 22, ☎ +31 35 621 69 84, [105]. Su-Th 3PM-1AM, F-Sa 3PM-3AM. This is a typical Dutch "brown cafe", an
excellent place with a relaxing atmosphere to try different kinds
of Dutch and Belgian beers. Several kinds of dinner are also
served, like meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. The place is
targeted for older audiences. The music style can be characterized
as a kind of emotional Dutch "folk" music. edit
- Cafe
1890, Biersteeg 10, ☎ +31 35 623 51 69 (cafe1890@hotmail.com), [106]. Su-Th
2PM-1AM, F-Sa 2PM-3AM. Quite an
old-fashioned bar for older audiences. On weekdays, it's possible
to play darts. On Saturdays, it's one of the few bars with plenty
of seating available. edit
- De
Doelen, Groest 42, ☎ +31 35 623 56 67 (info@cafededoelen.nl). M-Tu, Th 11AM-1AM, W 10AM-1AM, F-Sa 11AM-3AM, Su
6PM-1AM. This bar has a very young
audience (aged 16-18) with a wealthy background. Music is mostly
pop, and it's extremely crowded in weekends. edit
- De
Dokter, Groest 44, ☎ +31 646 74 18 74. M-Tu, Th 11AM-1AM, W 10AM-1AM, F-Sa 11AM-3AM, Su
6PM-1AM. At daytime it's possible
to eat here, at nighttime the bar has a very young audience and
music style similar to De Doelen. Pool can be played when it's not
too crowded. Officially entry is only for people aged 18+, but in
practice the bar is filled with 16-18 year old people.
edit
- Felix
II, Herenstraat 9, ☎ +31 35 621 70 90, [107]. Su-Th
4PM-1AM, F-Sa 4PM-3AM. Typical
"brown cafe", mostly for older audiences. The music is rock and
blues, and sometimes live bands play. edit
- Flater, Herenstraat 2, (info@flaterhilversum.nl),
[108]. Tu-Th 12AM-1AM, F-Sa 12AM-3AM, Su 2PM-1AM, M
closed. The audience at this bar
is young, in the age range 16-18. Pop music is the style of choice,
particularly a style of pop that's called "Apres Ski", music that
is familiar from winter sport holiday destinations in the Alps. At
daytime, it is a nice place to sit outside when the weather allows
it. edit
- The
Guardian, Groest 33, ☎ +31 35 647 32 33 (info@theguardian.nl), [109].
M noon-1AM, Tu-Th 11AM-1AM, F-Sa 11AM-3AM, Su
11.30AM-1AM. The only English pub
in Hilversum. Great interior on weekdays, but Saturday nights it's
so dark that it's barely noticeable. edit
- Le
Journal, Groest 21, ☎ +31 35 624 42 06 (le.journal@hotmail.com),
[110]. Su-Th 10AM-1AM, F-Sa 10AM-3AM. Based in a former printing press building, Le
Journal turned into a hip bar for visitors aged between 18 and 25.
At daytime this is a dining facility, from 10.30PM onwards it turns
into a bar. At ground floor, you can sit down and chill, while the
first floor has a crowded dance floor with loud music. Ordering
beer here is generally cheaper than elsewhere, around €1.75 each.
The best evenings are Thursdays and Fridays, as they have a '10
beer for 10 euro' discount offer. At Saturdays music is
particularly loud, even at ground floor, so forget about having
conversations that night. edit
- Karroesel, Spoorstraat 44, ☎ +31 35 538 30 25. M-Th noon-1AM, F-Sa noon-3AM, Su 3PM-1AM.
Bar with hard rock, metal and alternative
audiences. British expats gather here to watch important rugby
matches together. edit
- The
Legacy, Spuisteeg 3, ☎ +31 35 624 72 83 (info@cafethelegacy.nl), [111]. Su-Th noon-1AM, F-Sa noon-3AM. Generic bar with dance and pop music, mostly
visited by people between 18 and 30 years old. edit
- Musk,
Groest
53, ☎ +31 35 628 93
74 (fax:
+31 35 622 93 67), [112].
Su-Th 11AM-1AM, F-Sa 11AM-3AM. Possibly the most upscale place to go out, Musk
is the best bar if you want to run into some Dutch celebrities. Be
sure to dress very neatly and bring some girls, as entry is
extremely hard, not to say nearly impossible on Saturday nights.
You must be older than 21 to enter and identity papers are
required. The best time to go is Thursday nights, as gaining access
is a lot easier and you can be sure that no entry fee has to be
paid. Musk is a hip lounge bar with a dance floor in the back. The
interior can be characterized as modern East Asian style influenced
by Buddhist cultures. At daytime, you can sit in the sun while
enjoying a beverage outside. It is also possible to have dinner,
but don't do that: the food and service are average at best and
prices are outrageous. edit
- Thuis (Previously
Rendez-Vous), Groest 58a, ☎ +31 35 601 36 70, [113]. Su-Th till 1AM, F-Sa till 3AM). The audience has a wide age range, but consists
mostly (but not only) of lower educated people. There is a dance
floor downstairs, while upstairs you can find a nice balcony to sit
and talk. Some better Dutch darts players started their career
here, like Niels de Ruiter. edit
- Camouflage (Previously
Friends), Koninginneweg 84-86, ☎ +31 611 29 09 54, [114]. Th 11PM-4AM, F-Sa 11PM-5AM, Su-W closed. This nightbar often has theme parties, like 80s
and 90s music every first Saturday of the month and house music
every third Saturday of the month. Quite pricey though.
€10. edit
- Club Gooiland, Emmastraat 2, ☎ +31 35 628 82 01 (gooiland@live.nl),
[115]. F-Sa midnight-5AM. Only opened in weekends, the target audience is
in the age range 25-35. €5.
edit
- G-Spot, Groest 57, ☎ +31 35 628 60 87 (fax: +31 35 623 77 06), [116]. Su-Th midnight-4AM, F-Sa midnight-5AM. A popular club due to it's central location and
free entry. It feels more like a late-night bar than a full-fledged
club. It features different kinds of music styles with an emphasis
on pop and dance music. The audience is in the age range of
21-35. Free entry. edit
- Havana, Emmastraat 11a-13, ☎ +31 35 628 34 34 (info@havanahilversum.nl),
[117]. Su-Th 10PM-4AM, F-Sa 11PM-5AM. This original club is in Cuban style with a
tropical atmosphere and Che Guevara keeping an eye on you while on
the dance floor. Even Cuban cigars are for sale. It's actually
quite small and besides the dance floor it only features one bar
and some areas to chill out. Music style is a combination of
tropical hits, dance and 70s/80s music. Very crowded in
weekends. Free entry. edit
- Rex,
Groest
23, ☎ +31 35 631 95
29 (info@rexhilversum.nl, fax: +31 35 621 84 47), [118]. Bar Su-Th 11AM-1AM, F-Sa 11AM-3AM, Club Th 10PM-3AM,
F-Sa 11PM-5AM, Su-W closed. Previously a cinema and casino, now Rex is
split into a separate bar and club part. The bar is a hip and
cosmopolitan place with lounge music, visited mostly by upscale
audiences. There is a very stylish interior, with seats and couches
everywhere for chilling. At Saturdays it's best to go here in the
early evening, as from midnight onwards it gets very empty. Most
people then leave the bar and wait in line for the club. The club
is really hard to get into. If you want to enter, make
sure to come in a large group, bring some girls and dress neatly.
If it's full or you're otherwise unwelcome, the guards will pretend
there is a 'guest list' on which you're apparently not listed.
Inside is a VIP balcony which can only be entered by asking
permission to the staff. You must order drinks in full bottles to
get up there. Unlike it's upscale image, it's actually quite small
and the effects are unimpressive. The music is a combination of
house, electro, rock, pop, hip hop, breakbeat, mixed in a kind of
hip way. Bar free entry, club €7.
edit
- Switch (Previously
Baccara), Kolenstraat 5, ☎ +31 35 624 06 68 (dennisbacc@hotmail.com),
[119]. F-Sa 11PM-5AM, Su-Th closed. The oldest and largest club of the Gooi area,
it features 2 floors and 6 bars. The music style is a combination
of house, trance, club and R&B. There is a new club policy that
only allows visitors over 23 to enter. €5 after 1PM. edit
- Amrâth Hotel Lapershoek, Utrechtseweg
16 (Railway station
Hilversum Sportpark), ☎ +31 35 623 13
41, [120]. Quite a luxury hotel in a green location.
Comfort and superior rooms feature a shower, bath tub, hairdryer,
phone, television and ADSL-internet. Junior suite rooms also have a
jacuzzi, bathrobes and mini bar. €80-150. edit
- Amrâth Grand Hotel & Theater Gooiland,
Emmastraat
2, ☎ +31 35 621 23
31, [121]. As Hilversum is a city of architectural
highlights, Gooiland is a chance to spend the night in one of these
beauties. This neo-architecture hotel-theater has been designed by
Jan Duiker in 1936. All the rooms have a shower, hairdryer, phone,
television and free wireless internet. €70-120. edit
- Hotel
Ravel, Emmastraat 35, ☎ +31 35 621 06 85, [122]. This wonderful villa is quite close to the
center. All rooms have a phone, television, clock radio, writing
desk and private shower/toilet. €75-175. edit
- Hotel Villa Trompenberg, Christiaan de Wetlaan
1, ☎ +31 35 621 47
60, [123]. Nice villa in the wealthiest neighborhood of
Hilversum, it is a bit like a B&B. There is a fairly large road
next to the hotel, but the noise can barely be heard. €70-210. edit
- Tulip Inn Media Park Hilversum, Koninginneweg
30, ☎ +31 35 623 24
44,
[124]. Unlike the name suggests, it
is actually not that close to the Media Park. It is only a 7
minutes walk from the city center, and near the Town Hall.
€69-130. edit
Stay safe
There is not much to worry about in Hilversum, but the town
often makes the news with cases of vandalism.
Youth groups usually hang around the town center or near the main
and Sportpark railway stations, especially from 4PM onwards. As
they are often bored and drunk, and sometimes stoned, they destroy
trash cans, benches, bicycles, bus stops and other public property.
It's advisable not to interfere with them.
Another safety issue occurs after the bars and clubs close on
Fridays and Saturdays, between 2AM and 5AM. Large amounts of drunk
people gather on the streets, which often leads to
fights and confrontations with the police. Do not
get involved, as the police sometimes uses dogs to temper the
masses. Also avoid snackbars and other eating facilities at this
time, as they are usually packed and refuse to sell food after 3AM.
This causes anger with the hungry crowd waiting outside, thus a
fight is easily initiated.
Stay healthy
Staying healthy is probably the least you have to worry about.
Tap water in the Netherlands is among the cleanest
and safest in the world, and tap water in Hilversum tastes even
better than elsewhere in the country. Research from consumer
authorities show that you might get tricked when ordering mineral
water in bars or restaurants. One in three of them actually serve
tap water instead of mineral water!
If you are hiking or biking in the forests surrounding the city,
be careful of ticks and tick-carrying diseases. It
is advisable to wear long sleeves and long trousers. If you want to
be completely safe, tuck your trousers inside your socks. If you
discover a red ring on your body in the weeks after, be sure to
visit a doctor to check for Lyme disease, which
can be lethal without proper medical care.
Contact
The international telephone country code for the Netherlands is
31, the area code for Hilversum is
035.
Internet
Large internet facilities do not exist, your best bet is the
local public library. There are also some smaller phone shops
offering internet services, but usually they just have one or two
terminals available (mostly targeting Turkish and North African
immigrants making overseas calls). Finding a Wi-Fi spot is not an
easy task, and most of them are not free (the listing below being a
notable exception).
- Bagels & Beans, Kerkstraat 3, ☎ +31 35 631 97 23 (kerkstraat@bagelsbeans.nl,
fax: +31 35 631 97 24). M-W, F-Sa 8.30AM-5.30PM, Th 8.30AM-9PM, Su
closed. One of the few free Wi-Fi
spots in the center of Hilversum. Beverage required.
edit
- Horizon, Spoorstraat 51, ☎ +31 35 640 04 56. Tu-Sa 10AM-11PM, Su-M 11AM-11PM. Small phone shop with international dialing,
faxing, mobile phones accessories and two internet
terminals. edit
- MondialIntel, Langgewenst 2/HS, ☎ +31 35 629 55 73. Two internet terminals and international
calling services, conveniently located at the general
market. edit
- Public Library Hilversum (Bibliotheek Hilversum), 's-Gravelandseweg
55, ☎ +31 35 621 29
42, [125]. M 1AM-8.30PM, Tu, Th 10AM-6PM, W, F 10AM-8.30PM, Sa
11AM-6PM, Su closed. The most
convenient and cheapest place to go online. You need to put coins
in the machine before using the computer. They also have regional
and national newspapers for read, as well as papers from Germany,
France, the United Kingdom, Turkey and the Arab world. There is
also a wide arrange of magazines (The Economist, TIME
Magazine, der Spiegel and ParisMatch to name
a few), travel guides and English books. €0,15 per 15 minutes. edit
- T&T Telecom (Backside of the main railway station),
Kleine Drift
3, ☎ +31 35 683 52
56. daily 10AM-10PM. Larger than the other phone shops, but still
just three internet computers. Other services are international
calling and simlock removal. edit
- TNT Post Office (TNT
Postkantoor), Kerkbrink 16, ☎ 0900 767 85 26 (Dutch phones
only), [126]. M-F 9AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-1.30PM, Su closed.
edit
- Pharmacy Van Der Bergh (Kring-Apotheek Van Der Bergh), Stationsstraat
34, ☎ +31 35 621 41
74, [127]. edit
- Tergooi Hospitals (Tergooi Ziekenhuizen), Van Riebeeckweg
212, ☎ +31 35 688 77
77, [128]. edit
- De Gooi- en Eembode, Seinstraat 14, ☎ +31 35 625 45 45, [129]. Distributed weekly on Thursdays with local
events and classifieds. edit
- De Gooi- en Eemlander, Seinstraat
14, ☎ +31 35 647 71
30, [130]. The local newspaper with news and sport.
edit
- De Gooi- en Vechtstreek, Nijverheidswerf 22-24,
Bussum, ☎ +31 35 692 57
77, [131]. Weekly paper distributed on Wednesdays with
local events and activities. edit
Get out
Listed by distance, the rest of the Gooi
and Vecht Region has plenty of interesting towns and
villages.
- Baarn is about 15 minutes east on N415 or by train. Noteworthy
is the Soestdijk Palace, a former royal residence
temporarily open to the public.
- Lage Vuursche is about 15 minutes southeast on N415 or bus 59.
It's a sleepy village that wakes up Sunday afternoons for hungry
cyclists.
- Laren is about 15 minutes
north on N525 or bus 108.
- Loosdrecht is
about 15 minutes southwest on N403 or bus 121.
- Naarden is about 20
minutes north on N524 or train. It's 17th-century fortifications
are among the best preserved in Europe.
- Weesp is about 25 minutes
northwest on N236 or by train.
- Muiden is about 30 minutes
north on A1 or by train and bus. It has a magnificent 13th-century
castle and other medieval structures.
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Netherlands
North Holland
Hilversum (help·info) is a municipality
and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.
Located in the region called "'t Gooi", it is the largest town in that
area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes,
and smaller villages.
Hilversum is part of the Randstad, one of the largest conurbations in Europe.
Honorary
Consulate of Armenia, Melkpad 22, ☎ +31 6 288 86 707 (r.h.zieck@wbt.nl).
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