Shopping & cities
Nijmegen
Valkhof, St Stephen’s Church, Waalkade and old shopping streets
Nijmegen at a glance
45 minby car
49.8 kmdistance
- Location
- Nijmegen, city centre
- Address
- Grote Markt, Nijmegen
- Sunday shopping
- every Sunday, except on four public holidays
- Weekly market
- Monday and Saturday, Grote Markt and Burchtstraat
- Parking
- P+R Nijmegen Noord, € 3.50 per day (2026)
The Valkhof above the Waal
Nijmegen calls itself the oldest city in the Netherlands: around the year 100, the Roman Ulpia Noviomagus was granted city rights here. On the hill above the Waal, Charlemagne had a palace built around 777, and in the twelfth century Emperor Frederick Barbarossa fortified the Valkhof castle. After the castle was demolished in 1796 and 1797, the Valkhofpark was laid out in English landscape style.
The park still holds the Barbarossa ruin and the eleventh-century St Nicholas Chapel, octagonal inside and sixteen-sided outside, modelled on the Palatine Chapel in Aachen. Next to the chapel you look out over the Waal and the Waal Bridge, which opened in 1936 as the longest arch bridge in Europe. Down on the Waalkade stands the Besiendershuis from around 1525, where tolls were levied on passing ships.
The Grote Markt and St Stephen’s Church
On the Grote Markt stand the Boterwaag, the butter weigh house from 1612, and the Kerkboog, a sixteenth-century covered passage to St Stephen’s Church. In front of it stands the statue of Mariken van Nieumeghen. On Mondays and Saturdays the weekly market is held here, continuing into Augustijnenstraat and Burchtstraat.
St Stephen’s Church (Stevenskerk) was consecrated by Albertus Magnus more than 750 years ago. The spire was lost in the bombing of 22 February 1944; since its reconstruction, which lasted until 1969, the church has been the symbol of Nijmegen. Inside is the König organ from 1776, with around 3,600 pipes. From March to November you can climb the tower on a guided tour.
From Hezelstraat to Marikenstraat
Lange Hezelstraat was already called Hesestraet in 1310, after the road to the village of Hees. During the Peace of Nijmegen, from 1676 to 1679, diplomats stayed at the inns on this street. Many buildings survived the bombing of 1944 and all of them are listed, often with Art Nouveau decoration. Into Nijmegen calls Lange and Stikke Hezelstraat together the oldest shopping street in the Netherlands; stikke means steep.
Marikenstraat, opened in 2000, is a shopping street on two levels: well-known brands downstairs, boutiques and design and gift shops upstairs. Broerstraat is the traditional main shopping street, and the covered Molenpoort Passage is a godsend when it rains. Every Sunday is a shopping Sunday, and on Thursdays you can shop until 21:00.
Tip from reception
Park at P+R Nijmegen Noord by the Ovatonde in Lent: your parking ticket of € 3.50 (2026) is also your bus ticket to the centre, for up to four people, and you can use one electric bike free of charge. Staying in town for dinner? From 18:00 you pay just € 0.50 an hour in the Keizer Karel, Kelfkensbos, Mariënburg and Eiermarkt car parks.
Reception team, Parkhotel Horst
Good to know
Sunday and late-night shoppingThe shops are open every Sunday, except on New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Whit Sunday and Christmas Day. On Thursdays until 21:00.
Weekly marketMonday from 9:00 to 17:00 (October to March until 16:00) and Saturday from 8:30 to 17:00, on the Grote Markt, Augustijnenstraat and Burchtstraat.
ParkingP+R Nijmegen Noord costs € 3.50 per day (2026), including the bus to the centre. P+R West by the A73 is free. In four car parks you pay € 0.50 an hour from 18:00.
Museum Het ValkhofAfter its renovation, the museum has reopened at Kelfkensbos 59, from Tuesday to Sunday. You can visit Museum Kam on Sundays with a guided tour.
Photo of the Valkhof: FrDr (CC BY-SA 4.0); via Wikimedia Commons. Photo of the market: Luba Glazunova via Unsplash; photo of the car park: Sven Mieke via Unsplash.
Make a day of it
From the breakfast buffet to Nijmegen city centre, and back to your own wellness.
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Start the day at the breakfast buffet of Parkhotel Horst.
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A 45-minute drive, then you stroll through the Valkhofpark past the Barbarossa ruin, a remnant of the castle that was demolished in 1796 and 1797.
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Back in Horst, the indoor pool, the saunas and the wellness lounge are waiting for you, free for hotel guests.
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End the day with dinner at restaurant BØFF.
Your room, wellness included
Six rooms, from the Comfort room to the Apartment. Whichever room you choose, the pool, saunas, steam room and lounge are free to use.
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How to get there
From the hotel, it takes about:
The Valkhof, Nijmegen
Frequently asked questions
Any other questions? Call reception: +31 77 397 6000How far is Nijmegen from Horst?
The Valkhof in Nijmegen is about a 45-minute drive from Parkhotel Horst, 49.8 kilometres. By train, you travel from Horst-Sevenum station to Venlo and change there to the Maaslijn; you’ll find the current journey time in the journey planner on ns.nl.
Is there Sunday shopping in Nijmegen?
Yes, every Sunday, except on New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Whit Sunday and Christmas Day. On Thursdays there is late-night shopping in the centre until 21:00.
Where can you park cheaply in Nijmegen?
At P+R Nijmegen Noord in Lent for € 3.50 per day (2026); the parking ticket doubles as a bus ticket for up to four people. P+R West by the A73 is free. In the Keizer Karel, Kelfkensbos, Mariënburg and Eiermarkt car parks you pay € 0.50 an hour from 18:00.
Why is Nijmegen called the oldest city in the Netherlands?
The Roman Ulpia Noviomagus was granted city rights around the year 100, and in 2005 Nijmegen celebrated its 2,000th anniversary. Nijmegen is one of the cities that claim the title, and calls itself the oldest city in the Netherlands.
Is Museum Het Valkhof open?
Yes. After its renovation, the Valkhof Museum has reopened at Kelfkensbos 59, from Tuesday to Sunday. For current opening times and tickets, see valkhofmuseum.nl.
Can you climb the tower of St Stephen’s Church?
Yes, on a guided tour: from March to November you walk through the church and climb the tower. You can book via stevenskerk.nl. The church itself is open to visitors almost every day.
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Card photos: Kürschner (CC0, Wikimedia Commons); Lthelion (CC BY-SA 4.0); G.Lanting (CC BY 4.0); via Wikimedia Commons.
Photos: Michielverbeek (1, 2, 3; CC BY-SA 4.0); Fantaglobe11 (CC BY-SA 4.0); Roger Veringmeier (1, 2; CC BY-SA 4.0); via Wikimedia Commons.
After Nijmegen: pool, wellness and dinner at BØFF
Forty-five minutes from the Waal, you stay in green surroundings, with your own wellness under the same roof.