Our family of two adults and three children stayed in this home over Christmas and New Year. It was a lovely holiday, with very unusually mild weather. Utrecht was a surprisingly beautiful and interesting city and the house was well placed in the old part of the city centre close to museums, canals, and shops. Everyone speaks English.

The owners were very helpful, as was the grandmother of the family who lived almost across the street who was available for finding things out. She was very kind to allow us to walk with her and her dog and she cooked us a traditional Dutch meal.

We exchanged information beforehand on email of places to visit and we found that the temporary ice rink in the main square, the indoor Winter Wonderland (including a carousel, music and an ice rink) in the railway museum, and the indoor ten pin bowling / pool hall were big hits for the children. There is also a large outdoor play area (with giant rabbits) attached to an indoor play room that is free to use just at the end of the street. There are lots of playparks and green areas around the area. One of the local churches also has a free to view Nativity area with live animals to feed. The interactive Miffy museum was a good hit with the children. The teenagers enjoyed being able to wander round quite a range of shops. There are English language films shown in the area (cartoons are in Dutch).

At New Year people buy their own fireworks and bangers and let them off over a two day period. Unlike the UK there are not organised Firework displays and people who have been drinking just light fireworks in the street with little concern for health and safety which is worth bearing in mind when you have children.

The house was as described and our son was able to use some of the family's daughter's toys. It was warm, clean, and had all the equipment needed for a holiday, including UK TV channels.

The only downside with the location is the mental health institute across the road. It does mean that you see shifty looking people hanging about and they will approach you to ask for money. However, you just tell them to go away and they do.

Overall we were very impressed with the family, the home and the location. We visited Amsterdam one day but we were pleased that we were in Utrecht as it feels like Oxford or Cambridge with lots of cyclists and areas with few cars, so it was easy to walk about. It has all the charm of the canals and shops and pubs that people would associate with Amsterdam but without the tacky and sexually graphic / drug tourist shops.