Utrecht is the fourth-largest city and municipality of the Netherlands, capital and most populous city of the province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, in the very centre of mainland Netherlands; it has a population of 361,966 as of 1 December 2021.
It is currently one of the best cities in the world among the most historical and cultural centers. Let’s take a look at some if the top facts about it;
1.The city features many ancient buildings and structures
Utrecht’s ancient city centre features many buildings and structures, several dating as far back as the High Middle Ages. It has been the religious centre of the Netherlands since the 8th century and one of the most important places in the history of Netherlands.
It was the most important and attractive city in the Netherlands until the Dutch Golden Age, when Amsterdam surpassed it as the country’s cultural centre and most populous city.Though it is still one of the most relevant cities in the Netherlands.
2. The city is located on the banks of the river Rhine
Its location on the banks of the river Rhine allowed Utrecht to become an important trade centre in the Northern Netherlands. The growing town was granted city rights by Henry V at Utrecht on 2 June 1122. When the main flow of the Rhine moved south, the old bed which still flowed through the heart of the town became ever more canalized; and the wharf system was built as an inner city harbour system.
On the wharfs, storage facilities (werfkelders) were built, on top of which the main street, including houses, was constructed. The wharfs and the cellars are accessible from a platform at water level with stairs descending from the street level to form a unique structure
3. Utrecht is home to the largest university in the Netherlands
Utrecht is home to Utrecht University, the largest university in the Netherlands, as well as several other institutions of higher education. Due to its central position within the country, it is an important hub for both rail and road transport.
It contains the busiest train station in the Netherlands, Utrecht Centraal. It has the second-highest number of cultural events in the Netherlands, after Amsterdam.In 2012, Lonely Planet included Utrecht in the top 10 of the world’s unsung places.
4. The city has a young population and is a densely populated area
Utrecht city had a population of 361,924 in 2022. It is a growing municipality and projections are that the population will surpass 392,000 by 2025.As of November 2019, the city of Utrecht has a population of 357,179.
Utrecht has a young population, with many inhabitants in the age category from 20 and 30 years, due to the presence of a large university. About 52% of the population is female, 48% is male.
The majority of households (52.5%) in Utrecht are single-person households. About 29% of people living in Utrecht are either married, or have another legal partnership. About 3% of the population of Utrecht is divorced.
5. The city’s landscape is dominated by the Dom Tower, the tallest belfry in the Netherlands
Utrecht’s cityscape is dominated by the Dom Tower, the tallest belfry in the Netherlands and originally part of the Cathedral of Saint Martin.An ongoing debate is over whether any building in or near the centre of town should surpass the Dom Tower in height (112 m [367 ft]).
Nevertheless, some tall buildings are now being constructed that will become part of the skyline of Utrecht. The second-tallest building of the city, the Rabobank-tower, was completed in 2010 and stands 105 metres (344 feet) tall. Two antennas will increase that height to 120 metres (394 feet).
6. The city is a well connected and has a well-developed public transport network
Because of its central location, Utrecht is well connected to the rest of the Netherlands and has a well-developed public transport network.Utrecht Centraal is the main railway station of Utrecht and is the largest in the country.
There are regular intercity services to all major Dutch cities; direct services to Schiphol Airport. Utrecht Centraal is a station on the night service, providing 7 days a week an all-night service to (among others) Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
7. The economy of Utrecht depends largely on the several large institutions in the city
Production industry constitutes a small part of the economy of Utrecht. The economy of Utrecht depends for a large part on the several large institutions located in the city. It is the centre of the Dutch railroad network and the location of the head office of Nederlandse Spoorwegen.
ProRail is headquartered in De Inktpot (The Inkwell), the largest brick building in the Netherlands (the “UFO” featured on its façade stems from an art program in 2000). Rabobank, a large bank, has its headquarters in Utrecht.
8. Utrecht city is a culture centre
Utrecht city has an active cultural life, and in the Netherlands is second only to Amsterdam.There are several theatres and theatre companies. The 1941 main city theatre was built by Dudok. In addition to theatres, there is a large number of cinemas including three arthouse cinemas.
Utrecht is host to the international Early Music Festival (Festival Oude Muziek, for music before 1800) and the Netherlands Film Festival. The city has an important classical music hall Vredenburg (1979 by Herman Hertzberger). Its acoustics are considered among the best of the 20th-century original music halls.
There are also many art galleries in Utrecht. There are also several foundations to support art and artists. Training of artists is done at the Utrecht School of the Arts.
9. There are several big hotels and restaurants in the city
There are several big hotels and restaurants in the city including; 2L De Blend, BUNK Hotel Utrecht, NH Utrecht, Eye Hotel, The Nox, Mother Goose Hotel, Hotel Mitland, Hampton by Hilton Utrecht Central Station and Inntel Hotels Utrecht Centre.
Restaurants include; De Goedheyd, The Seafood Bar Utrecht, Sarban Afghaans Restaurant, San Siro, Hofman Utrecht, WT Urban Kitchen, Kimmade Vietnamese Street Food and Laila Restaurant Utrecht.
10. Utrecht is the lively, beating heart of Holland
Utrecht is the lively, beating heart of Holland. It was built around the Dom tower, which you can see from any point in the city, so there is no way you can get lost in the attractive, car-free city centre.It is one of the most attracting cities in the Netherlands.
Utrecht boasts beautiful canals with extraordinary wharf cellars housing cafés and terraces by the water. As well as the Dom tower, Utrecht boasts hundreds of other monuments that each contribute to the special atmosphere in this centuries-old university town.
