Do you want to really do something with your hands and completely clear your head? Then you need to go to KALA. This lovely hotspot combines food, yoga, and a creative studio under one roof. The best part is their ceramics studio, where you can join an introductory pottery class or spend a pleasant afternoon. Sip and paint (we like!)While you have your hands in the clay, you forget the worries of the day within a minute. Finished with your creation? Then plop down in the café area for one of their colorful Middle Eastern drinks. bowls with, for example, whipped feta and hummus, or an excellent matcha. The ultimate oasis of calm and creativity in the middle of the city.

KALA

A household name in the city for fifty years and living proof that some things should never change: Café de Plak. This collective eatery on Bloemerstraat (run without a boss, tasty rebelsis now celebrating its golden anniversary and doesn't go for trendy Instagram interiors or slick hospitality chatter. That is precisely why it feels so wonderful to come home here. The atmosphere is warm, open, and delightfully unpretentious. You pull up a chair here for a good conversation, an ice-cold craft beer, and, of course, their legendary cheese minceThis vegetarian masterpiece is a Nijmegen classic that you simply *must* taste at least once.

Café de Plak

Doddendael Castle In Ewijk, just outside Nijmegen, is the perfect base for exploring the student city. A manor, yes. Sturdy and proud, and right here in our own country. It is a castle, with an exquisite history that received a more than magnificent 21st-century update. Half-hidden, the building stands in the forests of Gelderland. Category 'must-know'. The manor itself consists largely of a white plastered main building dating back to 1379, although it repeatedly burned down, was rebuilt, and renovated over the years. The last residents were an artist duo – the creativity still hangs in the air. Sigh. Could it get any more perfect? ​​Absolutely: you are warmly welcome there all year round for a romantic overnight stay for two, a family outing, and other such pleasantries.

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As soon as the sun shines, in Nijmegen we prefer to head straight for the water. Because let's be honest: few things beat simply sitting by the Waal for an afternoon, gazing across the river at the passing ships and enjoying the breeze. Pure relaxation. When happy hour arrives, you walk right over to From KaaijThis terrace is situated right under the Waal Bridge and exudes that ultimate, relaxed atmosphere. beach vibeFeet in the sand, a cold craft beer or a good wine in your hand, and often great live music in the background. It is the perfect, relaxed spot to let that afternoon by the water flow into the late evening hours. And should the drinks be so enjoyable that you actually don't want to leave? The historic museum ship is located right next to the terrace. Grandma Sientje Moored. A super cozy B&B on the water, where you roll straight into your cabin after your last drink. It doesn't get any better than this.

For this stunning spot, you have to cross the bridge to Nijmegen-Noord for a very short while, but believe us: that bike ride is more than worth it. BRASS. It is beautifully situated by the water, nestled among the reeds, immediately giving you a kind of holiday feeling. In the summer, the large terrace by the water is a fantastic place to sit, while in the colder months you can move to their cozy glass greenhouses outside. Very pleasant. The menu is full of delicious dishes to share and changes with the seasons. The kitchen mixes the best of French classics with Asian flavors, without any fuss, but prepared exceptionally well. Whether you drop in for an extensive lunch, a lazy Sunday drink with a well-stocked platter, or linger until the very last cocktail in the late hours: at BRASS., you are pampered with a big smile all day long.

BRASS.