Holiday apartment in Nijmegen: De Bastei, Roman times and Via Romana

Holiday apartment in Nijmegen: culture, nature, riverside landscapes and routes

Nijmegen combines urban history, museums, riverside landscapes and routes for independent exploration. A holiday apartment in Nijmegen can therefore serve as a base for a variety of day plans. The city’s historical character becomes tangible in several places: Museum De Bastei is located in the only surviving bastion in the Netherlands. When it was built, it was given the name De Stratemakerstoren. Its fourteen gun ports are connected by a cannon passage that leads into two casemates. The museum also presents archaeological remains in situ. Those interested in culture can pay particular attention at De Bastei to the fourteen gun ports, the cannon passage and the two casemates.

Riverside landscapes, biodiversity and interactive urban experiences

The permanent exhibition Schatkamer van de Rivier focuses on the diversity of species that live in the city, on the terminal moraine ridge, in the floodplains and in the river. Another interactive experience is Expeditie ribbelroute, an outdoor augmented-reality experience through Nijmegen city centre. At Expeditie in het donker, visitors are then accompanied by a guide.

Roman traces at the Valkhof: chapel and museum

The site of the Valkhof Chapel was used strategically by the Batavians and later by the Romans. The Romans founded the capital of the Batavians at the Valkhof. The Valkhof Museum displays Roman archaeological finds, including a limestone column dedicated to the gods and a Roman battle helmet from the first century. Since Saturday, 6 June 2026, the Valkhof Museum has been open to the public. Valkhof Park is Nijmegen’s oldest park.

Opening hours and historical tours in Nijmegen

The Valkhof Chapel has seasonal opening hours: from 1 April to the last weekend in October, except Mondays, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The six-hour opening window of the Valkhof Chapel on days when it is open can be taken into account when planning the day.

Those wishing to explore Nijmegen on foot can plan the Stadswandeling Nijmegen as a five-kilometre, self-guided circular walk. It takes visitors through Nijmegen’s cultural history, which dates back to the Roman settlement established around 2,000 years ago. The five kilometres give the self-guided walking tour in Nijmegen a clearly defined spatial scope for day planning.

Getting around by bicycle and public transport

The Via Romana is a cross-border cycling route between Nijmegen and Xanten along the centuries-old Roman Limes Road. There are free, supervised bicycle parking facilities in Nijmegen city centre and at the railway station. Nijmegen is also well connected to public transport by numerous train and bus services. For cycle tourists, the city centre and railway station in Nijmegen are two specific locations, each with free, supervised bicycle parking facilities. Those who include the Via Romana can also plan their stay beyond Nijmegen as far as Xanten.

To the main travel overview: Nijmegen.