MarinaPark Bad Nederrijn

Bike, boat or boots are all equally excellent ways to explore this part of the world – whichever method you choose, you should find plenty of gorgeous views out along the river or up in the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park. Meanwhile, if you like your wildlife a little more exotic, you’ll need to head to Ouwehands Dierenpark (20 minutes’ drive), where you can see lions, pandas and other creatures from around the world. Sticking to classic Dutch scenery for now? Try a trip to Buren (15 minutes) or Wijk bij Duurstede (half an hour) or spend some time exploring the 17th-century manor house and landscaped gardens at Amerongen Castle (25 minutes). The fabulous city of Utrecht (35 minutes) should certainly be on your radar too – a day over there can be spent visiting the Miffy Museum and Museum Speelklok, taking an underground tour at DOMUnder or heading a little way out of town to the incredible Castle De Haar. It’s worth leaving a bit of time to explore the canals too, perhaps on a cruise or a rowing boat/canoe tour with a couple of stops at waterside cafés and restaurants along the way.