Dog-Friendly Things to Do in Utrecht

The Dom square is the historic heart of Utrecht, with the freestanding 112-metre Dom Tower (Netherlands' tallest church tower) on one side and the Cathedral and the cloistered Pandhof gardens on the other. The Dom Tower interior admits only assistance dogs, but leashed dogs can roam the cobbled square and the Pandhof at any time, and the views of the tower from across the square are the best photo of the trip.

The 50-minute classic canal cruise along the Oudegracht and the Stadsbuitengracht is the easiest way to see Utrecht from canal level — and dogs ride free of charge, no extra ticket required. The boats have an open back deck where dogs settle on a towel; bring a short leash and skip the high-summer midday slot if your dog is heat-sensitive.

An elegant 19th-century English-landscape park east of the centre, with a serpentine pond, tall plane trees, and broad lawns popular with locals from the surrounding Buiten Wittevrouwen neighbourhood. Dogs are leash-only on the lawns but the park is a quiet, picturesque alternative to the busier Griftpark — perfect for a slow morning loop. A pet-welcoming café (Theehuis Wilhelminapark) sits at the south end.