Nijmegen
Nijmegen is a hilly city on the Waal in the Dutch province of Gelderland, with Roman roots, a large student population and the Four Days Marches each July.
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Nijmegen is a city in Gelderland, in the east of the Netherlands, close to the German border. It sits on the Waal, the main Rhine branch in the Netherlands. The Romans built a fort here, and that past is still visible in the Valkhof, a park on a hill above the river. The park also holds the remains of a medieval palace chapel, and the city has a Roman museum.
The old center is built on hills, so expect some steep walking. A large student population keeps the cafés and shops busy. Nijmegen works as a day trip from Amsterdam or Utrecht, but a night gives you time to walk the river and the hills without rushing. The Valkhof is a short walk from the Waalkade, the riverside quay. Late spring and early autumn are the easiest months for walking. If your dates fall during the Four Days Marches in July, expect large crowds and book a room early.
Nijmegen in five
- Visit the Valkhof Museum for Roman historyNijmegen's visitor site describes the Valkhof Museum as holding ancient art and archaeological finds, with exhibitions on the city's Roman past. Check hours on the museum's own site.
- Walk Lange HezelstraatThe tourism site calls Lange Hezelstraat the country's oldest shopping street. It is a short walk rather than a ticketed sight.
- Avoid July unless you want the marchesThe Four Days Marches take over the city in July; the 2027 edition runs Tuesday 20 to Friday 23 July. Book rooms early for the festival, or pick another month for quiet streets.
- Hike the N70 for a half day outside townNijmegen's visitor site lists the N70, a walk over eight hills through varied countryside. Check the route and conditions before you go, and carry water.
- Treat Nijmegen as a stop on the rail lineThe city is on the NS network and works as a night between Utrecht and Eindhoven, or on the way to Germany. Check the route on 9292 for your date.Southeast planner
Things to do in Nijmegen
See all attractions in Nijmegen
Need to know
- Airport
- Schiphol (AMS) or Eindhoven (EIN), by train
- Getting there
- NS trains from Amsterdam, Utrecht and Eindhoven; check 9292.nl
- Getting around
- On foot in the old center; bikes for the Waal and parks
- Best base
- Old center near the Valkhof and the Waal
- Time needed
- 1 day; 2 with a hike or a July festival
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low2°Cold, greyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, grey
- FebruaryRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low2°ColdFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°CoolMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Spring, mildAprilRain
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, mild
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Mild, long daysMayRain
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, long days
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Four Days MarchesJulyRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Four Days Marches
- AugustPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°WarmAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Mild, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calmer
- OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Wet, windyOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Wet, windyNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh7°Low3°Dark, short daysDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, short days
Average daily high and low in Nijmegen, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Nijmegen
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
8
- Feels like
- 6°
- Humidity
- 88%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 98%
Nijmegen
09:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today12°8°98%Monday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Tue10°4°8%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed10°3°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°3°0%Thursday: Clear. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri9°2°2%Friday: Clear. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sat6°1°4%Saturday: Fog. High 6°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sun9°5°11%Sunday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 11%.
Updated 06:33 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Before you go to Nijmegen
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Rules for Nijmegen, checked
- Many nationalities do not need a visa for the Netherlands, which is part of the Schengen area. Check your status with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) before you book.Source
- Coffee shops sell small amounts of cannabis to adults, but carrying it across a border is illegal.
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in the Netherlands.
- Restaurant bills usually include service. Leaving a few euros extra is common, so check the bill first.
Plan around Nijmegen
Region planner: Maastricht, Eindhoven and the hills
Read the guideMaastrichtOld town and caves, far south by train
Read the guideEindhovenDesign city on the same line
Read the guideUtrechtCanals and the Dom Tower on the way
Read the guideAmsterdamMuseums and canals, the usual starting point
Read the guideAll of the NetherlandsNijmegen on the line between Utrecht and the south
Read the guideNijmegen FAQ
Is Nijmegen worth visiting?
Yes, for Roman history, a riverside setting and a young city feel. It is less polished than Amsterdam and rewards a half day on foot with one museum.
Why is Nijmegen called the oldest city in the Netherlands?
Its visitor site calls it the oldest city in the country, a Roman settlement some two thousand years ago. Treat the title as the city's own claim, and the Valkhof Museum is the place for Roman finds.
How many days do you need in Nijmegen?
One day covers the old center, the Valkhof Museum and the river. Add a second day for the N70 trail or the Betuwe orchards by bike.
When are the Four Days Marches?
In July. The 2027 edition runs from Tuesday 20 to Friday 23 July, according to the organizers. Book rooms early and expect crowds in the center that week.
Is Nijmegen a day trip from Amsterdam?
Yes, by NS train, though it is a half-day each way once you add a change. A night in Nijmegen lets you see the old center when the day crowds leave.