Valkhof

Valkhof is a historic hill and public park in Nijmegen, Netherlands. Located on the edge of the city center along the Waal River, it forms a prominent landscape feature that has attracted settlement and fortifications for centuries. The site is known for its archaeological value, including evidence of a Roman-era fortress and settlement related to the ancient town of Noviomagus Batavorum, with excavations revealing layers from late antiquity through the medieval period.

The hill’s most visible remnants today are the ruins of the St. Stephen’s Church (Stevenskerk), which were heavily damaged during World War II and preserved as a memorial. The surrounding Valkhof Park is a landscaped urban space that offers views over the river and city, and it hosts sculptures, green areas, and pathways for recreation and cultural activity.

Adjacent to the park, the Valkhof area houses cultural institutions that focus on archaeology and regional history. The Museum Het Valkhof, part of Nijmegen’s municipal museum network, collects and presents artifacts connected to the site’s Roman, medieval, and local heritage, linking the landscape with the region’s broader past.

Valkhof serves as a popular visitor destination and a focal point for the city’s cultural heritage. Its combination of ancient remains, preserved memorials, and parkland makes it a representative example of Nijmegen’s long-standing layers of history and its ongoing role as a center for archaeology, memory, and urban green space.