This small Dutch city has taken the crown (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
When it comes to the best European city, it’s easy to assume Barcelona, Rome or Lisbon might scoop the crown.
But what if we said you may not have even heard of the spot that’s been named ‘European City of the Year 2023’ at the Urbanism Awards.
A small Dutch city that’s been hailed as an alternative to Amsterdam – just without the heaving tourists – has been given the title this year.
Amersfoort, located in the Utrecht province and home to around 160,000 people, scooped the 2023 accolade.
It bears resemblance to Amsterdam – but has less tourists (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
It may be quieter than the capital of the Netherlands, but it still has a lot to offer visitors – most notably its historical appeal, as a surviving Mediaeval old town with a perfectly-preserved city centre.
Lots of city’s quaint architecture can be seen in the Murrhuizen area – a selection of homes built when the city expanded in the 15th century.
However, despite its rich history, it also has a lot going for it when it comes to urban development and sustainability.
The Mediaeval town has a rich history too (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Scientists, politicians and specialists travelled to Amersfoort in September to assess it before the awards, which are run by The Academy of Urbanism in London.
The team looked into sustainability and urban planning, as well as how the city is managed, and decided the city was a worthy winner for its innovative design, maintaining character, heritage, and its great quality of life for residents.
The number of residents grew by around 10,000 between 2012 and 2022 and the city now offers a range of affordable housing options. Amersfoort is also pretty appealing for its access to forest, lakeside and heathland – all a 10-minute cycle ride from the city.
Travel to the ‘undiscovered’ destination from the UK is pretty simple, too.
It’s easily accessible by train (which takes about 40 minutes) from Amsterdam Centraal – the same station that the Eurostar pulls into from the UK. Although, it’s worth pointing out that this is disrupted for six months in 2024, so passengers will need to change at Brussels.
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