Nijmegen

Founded around 100 AD as the Roman settlement Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum, Nijmegen has been continuously inhabited for over 2,000 years — making it the oldest city in the Netherlands. It sits on the south bank of the Waal, 19 km from Arnhem, and is reached by direct train in just 12 minutes with services every 10 minutes. The compact historic centre is easy to explore on foot, with the Waalkade riverfront terrace strip, the medieval Valkhof park, and the main market square all within walking distance of the station.

The Valkhof park stands on the site of Charlemagne's 8th-century palace and the fortress built by Frederick Barbarossa in 1155. The Kruittoren (gunpowder tower) and fragments of the medieval walls survive. The Valkhof Museum at the edge of the park holds Roman-era collections alongside contemporary art and is open Tuesday to Sunday.

Lange Hezelstraat, running south from the market square, is the oldest shopping street in the Netherlands — medieval guild houses line both sides. The Waalkade riverfront comes alive in summer with terrace bars and restaurants looking out over the wide Waal. The national bicycle museum Velorama, tracing 600 years of cycling history, sits nearby on the riverfront.