Utrecht is one of the largest cities of the Netherlands, and it is located as part of the populous Randstad area. The city’s history goes back to the Romans, who built a fort here in about the year 50, which was called Traiectum. The fort was also nicknamed Ultra to distinguish it from other forts, and Ultra Traiectum eventually became Utrecht. In 696, Saint Willibrord established a religious center on the abandoned Roman fort with two churches, and Willibrord became Utrecht’s first bishop. The city grew, and in 1122 the Holy Roman emperor granted Utrecht city rights, and thereby the citizens could build a city wall amongst other structures.

Many stone town houses were built in the period after that, and the cathedral was built from 1254 in the flourishing trading town. However, the part of the Rhine river through the city became less navigable, and this meant that trade moved primarily to Amsterdam. However, Utrecht retained its religious significance. Later, the Peace of Utrecht was concluded in the city in 1713, and in recent centuries Utrecht has grown with industrialization.

Today, Utrecht is a city with a cozy center and many sights. You can start a tour of the city center at the Domplein, a square that literally cuts through the city’s planned but unfinished cathedral. On one side is the Domtoren, which at 112.5 meters is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands. The Domtoren was built 1321-1382 and is a landmark of Utrecht. On the other side of the square you can see the cathedral Domkerk, which was once the largest church in the country.

The Domkerk was built from 1254 to the 16th century, but in 1674 a storm destroyed the nave, which has never been rebuilt. Therefore, the church tower is isolated from the rest of the cathedral. There have been several plans to rebuild the church, but this was never realised, and instead you can see the outline of the historic Domkerk’s extent in the pavement of the Domplein.

Close to the Domkerk you can see several other large churches from Utrecht’s long history as an ecclesiastical center. You can, for example, visit Pieterskerk, which is one of the city’s oldest churches. Pieterskerk was built from 1039 with dedication in 1048. Since then it has been rebuilt several times, but you can still see part of the original Romanesque church. Janskerk is another of Utrecht’s centrally located churches. It was built at the same time as the Pieterskerk, but stands today with a significant rebuilding from the 16th century, which is why you can see a Romanesque nave with a Gothic choir.

You should also see Sint-Willibrordkerk, which is considered one of Holland’s most beautiful churches in the 19th century neo-Gothic style. The church was built in 1875-1877 and has an elegant interior with impressive stained glass windows. Originally there was also a fifth medieval church in the town, Mariakerk, but it was demolished in the 19th century. On the south side of Mariaplaats square, however, you can see some of the old monastery structures that was located by Mariakerk.

In Utrecht there is also much else to see than the city’s churches. The Oudegracht canal runs through the center of Utrecht and along it there are some beautiful canal environments. You can e.g. see the Oudegracht by the square and Stadhuisbrug bridge in front of Utrecht’s town hall. The town hall was built in neoclassicism with a temple front in the years 1826-1830. In the city you can also see some interesting buildings from recent times.

On the Neude square is the city’s old main post office, which was built 1919-1924 in one of the finest examples of expressionism from the Amsterdam school, which architecturally was a response to historicism. The large interior hall is particularly impressive. To the southeast of the city you can see the Rietveld Schröderhuis, which is a house that was built in 1924 according to Gerrit Rietveld’s design. The architecture follows the art movement De Stijl, which was founded in the Netherlands in 1917. Today, the house is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In Utrecht there are also several interesting museums. Next to the Catholic cathedral, Sint-Catharinakathedraal, you can visit the Museum Catharijneconvent, which is a museum of religious history and religious art. Here are many fine things from the Middle Ages to the present day, which describe Christianity in the Netherlands. You can also see art at the Centraal Museum Utrecht, which is a museum with a great variety in the collections.

Here are works by old masters, modern art, contemporary art, design, fashion, etc. In Utrecht you will also find the Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum, which is the railway museum of the Netherlands. The museum was founded in 1927 and later moved to the disused railway station, Maliebaanstation, where you can see many examples of rolling stock from the country’s railway history in natural surroundings.