Bunnik

"Oude Raadhuis". Former Town Hall.

Bunnik is a town of 15,000 people (2019) in the southeast of Utrecht, the Netherlands. Chief interests of Bunnik are its surrounding nature, consisting mainly of forests, farmlands and the Kromme Rijn; and the fortresses of the Hollandic Water Line: Fort bij Vechten and Fort bij Rhijnauwen.

Understand

The recorded history of the town dates back nearly 2,000 years, when the Romans constructed a fort at Fectio (now Vechten) with a harbour facing the river Rhine, which marked the border of the Roman Empire. The fort developed into a thriving trading centre, which continued to exist after the Romans abandoned the fort in the fourth century. Subsequently, the area was occupied by the Frisians and the Franks. In the 8th century the village of Bunninchem (Bunnik) was developed.

Get in

By car

From Utrecht or Amsterdam take the A12 towards Arnhem: Take exit 19: Bunnik. Plenty of free parking available.

By rail

Trains come from Utrecht Centraal to 1 Bunnik station  SPR  every half hour. This station consists of two platforms, one of which for either direction down the line. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket machine at the station. The service here runs between Utrecht and Rhenen. If you're coming from the east using an Intercity service, then change at Driebergen-Zeist, taking the sprinter one stop up the line towards Utrecht Centraal.

By bus

Take the bus 41 to Wijk bij Duurstede from Utrecht Centraal. It makes several stops in Bunnik (4-6 times every hour):

• Oud Amelisweerd: Hollandic Waterline Museum, Fort bij Vechten, Museum Oud Amelisweerd
• Rhijnauwenselaan: Youth Hostel, Fort bij Rhijnauwen, Theehuis Rhijnauwen
• Van Zijldreef : Train Station
• Centrum : Bunnik Centre

There's also a night bus, Bus 441.

Get around

Walking or using a bike is the easiest way to travel in Bunnik. Distances are short, and everything is close to wherever you are.

By bike

You can rent a bike at the unmanned 2 OV-fiets caroussel next to the train station, which requires a OV-chipkaart. An alternative - also near the station - is the 3 USP campus bike which you can rent using an app.

See

Aerial view of Fort bij Rhijnauwen.

• 1 Hollandic Waterline Museum, Achterdijk 12, 3981HB. The Waterline Museum, at Fort by Vechten, tells the story of water in its capacity as an ally in defending the Netherlands between 1588 and 1940. The museum brings the Waterline to life through personal stories, original elements and replicas, working models and digital media. €9. (updated May 2018)
• 2 PopUp Museum Oud Amelisweerd, Koningslaan 9, 3981HD. W-Su 12:00 - 17:00. In an 18th-century mansion. Unique are the original 18th-century Chinese paper hangings. €5 adults; €2.50 kids 13-17 years old; free kids 0-12; Museumcard (Museumjaarkaart) free. (updated Oct 2019)
• 3 Fort bij Rhijnauwen, Vossegatsedijk 5, 3981HS. Excursions mid-April until October (minimum age 10) W 10:30 and Sa Su 13:30. Biggest fort of the Hollandic Water Line, surrounded by a mixture of forest and fields. €8.50. (updated May 2018)
• 4 Oude Dorpskerk, Kerkpad 2, 3981EM. See service hours on website. Old village church dating back to the 13th century. free. (updated May 2018)

Do

Bunnik
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       69     5 −1       49     6 −1       66     8 2       52     13 4       61     17 7       70     20 10       76     22 12       71     22 12       68     18 9       75     14 6       81     8 3       83     6 1 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm KNMI
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       2.7     41 30       1.9     43 30       2.6     46 36       2     55 39       2.4     63 45       2.8     68 50       3     72 54       2.8     72 54       2.7     64 48       3     57 43       3.2     46 37       3.3     43 34 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

• Walk along the Kromme Rijn, a small river that flows from Wijk Bij Duurstede to Utrecht.

Buy

• 1 Kaashandel Jan van Manen, Dorpsstraat 30, 3981EB. Tu Th F 08:00-12:30 & 13:30-18:00; W 08:00-12:30; Sa 08:00-16:00. Buy Dutch (or many other) cheeses here. Especially the old Dutch cheese is recommended. (updated May 2018)

Eat

Budget

• C-vis, Van Hardenbroeklaan 15, 3981EN. Tu-F 09:00-18:00; Sa 08:30-18:00. Wide assortiment of high-quality fish and seafood. The Kibbeling with sauce is recommended. (updated May 2018)
• Cafetaria Bunnik, Dorpsstraat 42, 3981EB. Daily 11:30-21:00. French fries, shawarma, Turkish pizza and fried Dutch snacks, like frikandel and kroket. (updated May 2018)

Mid—range

• 1 Het wapen van Bunnik, Dorpsstraat 9, 3981EA. M-Th 09:00-23:00; F 09:00-00:00; Sa 10:00-23:00; Su 10:30-23:00. French kitchen in the historic centre. (updated May 2018)
• 2 Theehuis Rhijnauwen, Rhijnauwenselaan 16, 3981HH. Daily 10:00-21:30. Nicely located pancake restaurant, with a beautiful terrace along the Kromme Rijn. (updated May 2018)
• 3 Vroeg, Achterdijk 1, 3981HA. M-F 07:00-23:00; Sa Su 08:00-23:00. This restaurant uses ingredients from the region for its dishes. It's in a monumental farmhouse from 1599, which served as a hostel until 1735. (updated May 2018)

Sleep

Budget

• 1 Hostel Stayokay Bunnik, Rhijnauwenselaan 14b, 3981 HH. In the woods on the East end of Utrecht, in a very old building in the forest of the fortress "Rhijnauwen". Easy to reach from Utrecht by car (15 minutes) or bike (25 minutes), but not recommended if you plan to go clubbing all night, in which case you’ll want to stay in the city centre. from €20. 
• 2 Buitengoed de Boomgaard, Parallelweg 9, 3981 HG. Campsite in Bunnik, Utrecht.The campsite has pitches with shade, suitable for tents, caravans and motorhomes. Also it's possible to rent caravans and studios. 

Mid—range

• 3 Postillion Hotel Bunnik, Baan van Fectio 1, 3981 HZ. Easy to find, close to the highway A12, standard business hotel. around €80. 

Go next

Routes through Bunnik

The Hague ← Gouda ←	W  E	→ Arnhem → Oberhausen (GER)
Amsterdam ← Utrecht ←	W  E	→ Zeist → Rhenen
Breukelen ← Utrecht ←	W  E	→ Zeist → Veenendaal
Utrecht ←	W  E	→ Wijk bij Duurstede