Arnhem City Guide
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Netherlands

Arnhem City Guide

Gelderland

Arnhem is a historic city in Gelderland, Netherlands, known for its WWII history and green spaces along the Lower Rhine river. It blends a modern city center with parks and museums. The city offers good infrastructure and a relaxed pace, making it comfortable for travelers and remote workers.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Good
7

The food scene includes Dutch classics like stroopwafels and bitterballen, plus Indonesian, Italian, and Asian cuisine. Vegetarian and vegan options are common. Late-night food is limited, mostly fast food.

Local Dishes:
Stroopwafels, Bitterballen, Haring, Dutch cheese
International Cuisine:
Indonesian, Italian, Asian
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Good
6

Nightlife centers around bars and pubs in the city center with some clubs. It is decent but not extensive.

Coffee Culture
Good
7

Developing coffee scene with specialty shops and traditional cafés. Coffee is often enjoyed with a biscuit or apple pie.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

Tipping is appreciated but not required. Typically rounding up or 5-10% for good service in restaurants. Taxi drivers expect rounding up. Not expected for other services.

Top Attractions
Airborne Museum Hartenstein
Historical
Museum about the Battle of Arnhem.
Netherlands Open Air Museum
Museum
Traditional buildings and cultural exhibits.
Royal Burgers' Zoo
Zoo
Large zoo with ecosystems.
St. Eusebius Church
Historic Site
Historic church with city views.
John Frost Bridge
Historical
WWII landmark bridge.
Museum Arnhem
Museum
Modern and contemporary art museum.
Sonsbeek Park
Nature
City park with walking paths.
SIM Cards

SIM cards can be bought at phone shops, supermarkets, and some convenience stores. Major providers are KPN, Vodafone, and Odido, with budget options like Simyo and Ben. eSIMs are available from Vodafone and KPN.

Available at:
Phone shops
Supermarkets
Convenience stores
Recommended Apps
9292(Transport)
NS app(Transport)
Tikkie(Finance)
Buienradar(Utilities)
Thuisbezorgd.nl(Food)
Google Maps(Navigation)
Parkmobile/Yellowbrick(Transport)
OV-chipkaart app(Transport)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Excellent
8

Generally clean city, especially downtown. Recycling and waste collection are well managed.

24/7 Services
Limited
4

Limited 24/7 services. Some pharmacies and clinics offer emergency hours. Night food options are mostly fast food.

Groceries
Albert Heijn
Jumbo
Plus
Lidl
Aldi

Supermarkets like Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Lidl, and Aldi carry local and some international products. Local markets offer fresh produce. Stores open typically 8 AM to 9 PM on weekdays, shorter on weekends.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

Most payments are done by debit cards like Maestro and V Pay. Credit cards are accepted but less common for online shopping. Cash is still accepted but less used. Digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay are growing.

ATMs

ATMs are widely available from major banks such as ING, Rabobank, and ABN AMRO. Some may charge fees for foreign cards.

Schools
International

Rivers International School Arnhem offers IB and British curricula with instruction in English. Other local schools exist but may teach in Dutch.

Available Schools:
Rivers International School Arnhem

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
7
Available Spaces:
Regus Velperplein 23-25
Professional coworking with meeting rooms, some 24/7 access.
24/7 Access
Regus Arnhem Park Tower
Modern coworking space with good facilities.
Regus Arnhem Business Park
Spacious coworking hub near business area.
Workin.space
Collaborative space with flexible options.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Good
Digital Nomad Community
Limited
4

Small nomad community growing slowly. Few dedicated coworking and no major meetups yet. Good cafes and coworking hubs.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Excellent
9

Lots of green areas like Sonsbeek Park and access to the Veluwe national parks. Good shaded trails and running paths.

Running
Excellent
8

Popular routes include Sonsbeek Park, riverbanks, and nearby national parks. Running is safe and well-supported with clubs and events.

Gyms
Available

Several gyms with various facilities are available, including indoor ski at Sportcentrum De Grote Koppel.

Available Gyms:
Basic-Fit
Fit For Free
Sportcentrum De Grote Koppel
Anytime Fitness
Tennis
Good
6

Tennis courts are available in sports clubs with coaching and some equipment rental.

Padel
Good
6

Padel courts exist at local clubs with similar facilities and booking systems as tennis.

Yoga
Good
7

Several yoga studios offer various styles and classes, often with drop-in options. English-speaking instructors are sometimes available.

Martial Arts
Good
7

Various martial arts schools offer Judo, Karate, Taekwondo, BJJ, Muay Thai, and boxing. Drop-in classes and English instruction are sometimes available.

Skiing
Limited
4

Indoor Ski Arnhem is 4 km away, with slopes for all levels and equipment rental included.

Water Sports
Good
6

Kayaking, paddleboarding, and sailing available on the Rhine and nearby lakes during warmer months.

Surfing
Poor
1

No surfing spots near Arnhem. Closest surf beaches are coastal and over an hour away.

Diving
Poor
3

Limited freshwater diving in lakes and quarries. Conditions vary with season and location.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Excellent
9

Healthcare quality is high, with English-speaking staff in hospitals and clinics. Both public and private options exist. Pharmacies have regular hours; some offer on-call services.

Hospitals:
Arnhem Medical Center
Pharmacies:
Apotheek Arnhem Central
Service Apotheek Elderveld
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water is clean and safe to drink, with strict quality controls.

Common Scams
Taxi overcharging without meter, Fake police checking for counterfeit money, Fake accommodation listings, Pickpocketing in crowded places, Counterfeit euro bills, "White van" fake electronics scam

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Excellent
8

Plenty of playgrounds like Speelaardvarken and Burgers' Zoo. Family-friendly cafés and baby supplies are easy to find. Attractions include Royal Burgers' Zoo, Netherlands Open Air Museum, and Park Sonsbeek.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Excellent
9

Very accepting and safe for LGBTQ+ people with legal protections and inclusive venues. Local pride events are smaller but nearby cities have more.

Pet Friendly
Good
7

Pet-friendly city with parks, vets, and many accommodations allowing pets. Dog parks are common.

Communities
Expats in Arnhem (Social)
Arnhem International Community (Social)
Arnhem Mamas & Papas (Family)

Quick Facts

Population
164,096
Power Reliability
Excellent
10/10

Electricity is very reliable with a stable and well-maintained grid.

Languages
Dutch(100%)
English(80%)
Emergency
112
Emergency
0900-8844
Non-emergency police
0800-7000
Anonymous crime reporting

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
1
🏔️
Earthquake
Very Low Risk
1

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Heatwaves
July, August
Summers can be warm with occasional heatwaves but usually moderate.

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