Enter Utrecht's engrossing Railway Museum (spoorwegmuseum.nl; €19.50) via the gloriously restored 1874 Maliebaan Station, complete with art nouveau chandeliers. Move on to peruse countless historic locomotives, a vast collection of model trains and a range of rides and interactive science experiences for all ages. De Vuurproef is a Harry Potter meets Willy Wonka experience that starts as a history of railways and then morphs into an award-winning simulator ride.
One of the many other exhibits looks at the future of railways, including Dutch prototypes for hyperloop pods. The museum can be accessed by a pleasant amble across the canal ramparts from town. However, full-on railway enthusiasts love to arrive directly from Utrecht Centraal on a one-stop train service departing at 31 minutes past the hour.
