Find a train from Amsterdam to Utrecht. Utrecht: How to get there and where to stay? Taxi. What features exist

Utrecht is the capital of the province of the same name and the fourth largest city in the Netherlands. It is located in the central part of the country - just 25 minutes south of Amsterdam. The history of the city goes back to the distant past, when in the 1st century AD the Romans built defensive fortresses - castrums. Over a huge historical period, Utrecht has become a large modern city and an important economic center of the Netherlands.

For many centuries this city was an important religious center of the country. This explains such a large number of historical churches among the attractions of Utrecht. A wealth of historic buildings, a network of picturesque canals and a range of varied and fascinating museums make this city a popular destination tourist destination. The list of attractions below will help you decide what to see in Utrecht.

Utrecht Cathedral. | Photo: Patrick Rasenberg / Flickr.

Once upon a time main cathedral Utrecht was connected to the Dome Tower, but after the central nave collapsed during a tornado, the two structures separated. This beautiful Gothic cathedral has stood in Utrecht since the Middle Ages and was once considered the largest church in the Netherlands.

The architecture of the building is fully consistent with French Gothic examples. Today, the surviving fragments of the old church are the choir and the transverse nave, and on the territory of the destroyed central nave there is an area planted with trees.

The cathedral's surviving interior still impresses with its many ornate vaulted arches and colorful stained glass windows.

Address: St Martin's Cathedral, Achter de Dom, Utrecht, Netherlands.

Dome Tower Utrecht. | Photo: wikimedia.

A huge 112.5-meter structure, the Dome Tower, rises above the center of Utrecht. It is clearly visible from anywhere in the city and is one of its most iconic landmarks. The tower was built in 1321 and stands separate from St Martin's Cathedral.

The tower houses a bell tower - a group of 14 medieval bells weighing a total of 32,000 kilograms. IN weekdays can still be heard from the tower at certain intervals bell ringing, and on Saturdays real carillon concerts are held here.

There is a special room inside where visitors can learn about the history of the tower and buy original souvenirs. Climbing up the 465 steps, you will see a fantastic panorama of the Netherlands, and you can even see Rotterdam and Amsterdam in the distance.

Address: The Dom Tower, Domplein 21, 3512 JC Utrecht, The Netherlands.

DOMunder is located in the same place as the Dome Tower and Cathedral St. Martin - on Domplein. Descending to a depth of 4.7 m, you will find yourself in an unusual underground museum telling about the 2,000-year history of Utrecht.

The museum was opened in 2014 and is equipped with the most advanced technologies. Visitors are given interactive flashlights that illuminate the exhibits. Among the unique archaeological finds, fragments of the stone walls of an ancient Roman fortress that stood on the site of the current Domplein square.

Address: DOMunder, Domplein, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Jukebox Museum. | Photo: Kotomi_/Flickr.

The extraordinary Speelklok Museum is a magical place full of entertainment and amazing mechanical mechanisms that will delight visitors of all ages. The museum's exhibition presents a variety of devices with mechanical music - toys, watches, boxes, barrel organs and musical instruments.

There are sounds everywhere and moving parts of devices are visible. Most of the museum exhibits are still functioning. In addition to a beautifully curated collection of musical mechanisms, the museum gives visitors an insight into how these unique pieces are created. The manufacture of each part of the mechanism requires great skill, patience and dedication.

Address: Museum Speelklok, Steenweg, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Railway Museum. | Photo: Jan-Willem Reusink / Flickr.

This interesting city museum is located in the eastern part of Utrecht, on the former railway station Maliban. The old station was reconstructed, and later a new building was added to it, which is connected to the main building through a pedestrian crossing.

The museum's collection includes unique items related to the history of the Dutch railways. The museum is divided into four thematic sections - “Dream Journeys”, “Steel Monsters”, “Workshop” and the Great Discovery.”

In addition to the main exhibition halls, the museum has a model railway, a children's play area, and a collection of real carriages and locomotives, such as De Arend and NS Class 200.

Address: Railway Museum, Maliebaanstation, Utrecht, Netherlands.

Utrecht canals

The presence of canals is a typical feature of Dutch cities, and Utrecht is no exception. There may not be as many of them as in Amsterdam, but they are very unusual in appearance - they are often called two-tiered. One embankment is located on the lower level, right next to the water, and the second, wider one, is on the upper level.

The canals running through the entire city center are simply mesmerizing with their beauty. Some of them can be taken on excursion boats, but it is much more pleasant in good weather take a walk.

Walking along the upper tier of the canals, you will see many tall, narrow houses of different colors, with doors opening directly onto the canal. While the lower tier gives you the opportunity to look at Utrecht from an unusual angle.

Address:

Central Museum Utrecht.

The Utrecht Central Museum is the oldest city museum in the Netherlands. It was founded in 1838 and is located in the building of a former Augustinian monastery. The museum complex houses an impressive collection of paintings by such famous masters of the Utrecht school as Joachim Uttewael and Gerrit van Honthorst.

In addition to works by old masters, the museum's collection includes medieval sculptures, archaeological and religious exhibits, historical costumes and furniture, decorative and applied arts, jewelry and works by contemporary artists.

Among the most interesting exhibits is an ancient ship belonging to the type of so-called “Utrecht ships”, which is exhibited in the basement of the museum. With its rich and varied collection, the Utrecht Central Museum is a must-see, with something of interest for every visitor.

Address: Centraal Museum, Agnietenstraat, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Botanical Garden of Utrecht University. | Photo: Tom Jutte/Flickr.

The famous Botanical Garden of Utrecht is owned by the local university and is located in the eastern part of the city. The garden area of ​​8 hectares is divided into 6 zones, including a rock garden, a fort area with numerous varieties of flowers, and a garden wildlife where they live different types birds, reptiles and insects.

At the Utrecht Botanical Garden you will see many beautiful fountains and more than 10,000 species of vegetation. In addition, in the greenhouse you can admire the unique collection of butterflies - it amazes with the richness and variety of species presented, including such beautiful views like Morpho and Atlas Moths.

Address: Utrecht Botanical Gardens, Budapestlaan 17, 3584 CD Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Flower market Janskerhof. | Photo: Alison Netsel/Flickr.

Every Saturday there is a large flower market on the Janskerhof town square. It is located next to medieval church, a short walk from the Dome tower and the main city square.

Unlike the flower markets of Amsterdam, which focus mainly on tulips, the Utrecht market simply amazes with the variety of potted plants, cut flowers, seedlings, herbs and seeds.

The riot of smells and colors attracts numerous tourists here. In addition, this is a great place where you can feel the atmosphere of a real flower market, take some colorful shots or buy a small original souvenir.

Address: Janskerkhof flower market, Neude Janskerkhof en Domplein, 3512 JE Utrecht, The Netherlands.

The Roman Catholic Church of St. Willibrord is a prime example of neo-Gothic architecture. It is located in the center of Utrecht - not far from the Church of John the Baptist and the Dome Tower. The temple was built in the 1800s, making it a relatively new religious structure in the region.

From the outside, the building stands out for its tall and narrow design, while inside it stands out for its incredibly elegant and luxurious design. The magnificent interior truly impresses with its bright colors and numerous works of art.

Colorful stained glass windows frame the arched openings, and on the columns and ceiling there are many decorative elements in rich colors - green, orange and gold. For connoisseurs of beautiful architecture, the Church of St. Willibrord is a must-see attraction in Utrecht.

Address: Sint Willibrordkerk, Minrebroederstraat, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Wilhelmina Park. | Photo: Tom Imrei/Flickr.

Large city park located east of Utrecht – perfect place, where you can stop and relax in the fresh air on the way to the Botanical Garden. The park was created in the English landscape style according to the design of the Dutch garden architect Hendrik Copain. It first opened to visitors in 1898.

There are many beautiful statues and monuments in the park (including a statue of Queen Wilhelmina, after whom the park got its name). In addition, you will see here a large number of bicycle paths, the Tea Room building, a beautiful rose garden, a large Central Pond and many wonderful trees and varied vegetation.

Address: Wilhelminapark, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Museum of the Monastery of St. Catherine. | Photo: wikimedia.

This museum is located in the southern part of Utrecht - in the monastery of St. Catherine, and is dedicated to works of church art. The museum houses a huge collection of historical exhibits and works of art, from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Among them are ancient manuscripts, first printed books in precious bindings, icons, wooden sculptures, statues of saints, church utensils and rich vestments of clergy, altars, items made of gold and silver. Dutch painting of the Golden Age is represented by paintings by Rembrandt, Frans Hals and Jan van Scorel.

Address: Museum Catharijneconvent, Lange Nieuwstraat, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Fairytale castle, half surrounded by a moat and lake, is a real hidden gem among Utrecht's attractions. In addition to the castle, the estate ensemble includes a chapel and a large picturesque park. The structure was built in the neo-Gothic style - with several pointed turrets and battlements.

The church's stunning interior features exquisite wood carvings, as well as an art collection and tapestries. No less impressive than the castle are the beautiful gardens surrounding it, reminiscent in style of the parks of Versailles. It's easy to see why this place attracts so many tourists - the backdrop of Castle de Haar and the surrounding gardens makes for incredibly picturesque photos.

Address: Kasteel de Haar, Kasteellaan, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Church of St. Peter. | Photo: wikimedia.

This roman catholic church is one of the oldest in the city. It was illuminated in the early 1000s. The building is located in the center of Utrecht, in close proximity from other famous city attractions. The church was built in the Romanesque style - with two towers, high arched stained glass windows and a nave at the rear of the structure.

The interior features beautiful columns made of red sandstone. There is a lot of light coming through the colorful curves, especially at the main altar. In the Church of St. Peter you can see the 13th-century crypt with the sarcophagus of Bishop Bernold.

Address: Pieterskerk, Pieterskerkhof, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Domplein Square. | Photo: wikimedia.

Domplein is one of the central squares Utrecht, included in all popular tourist routes around the city. The square is home to famous Utrecht landmarks such as the Dome Tower and St. Martin's Cathedral.

In addition, on the square itself and in the nearby alleys you will find many restaurants, cafes and bars. Thanks to its convenient location, Domplein is great place, where you can start an exciting journey around Utrecht.

Address: Domplein, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

The highlight of your stay in Utrecht will be the opportunity to stroll along the beautiful old Oudegracht canal. It runs through the central part of the city from southeast to north. In the southern part the canal follows a route that was once a section of the Rhine, while the northern part of Oudegracht includes segments of a canal that was built around 1000 AD. e. and connected the Rhine with the Vechte River.

In 1275, after the completion of the Utrecht lock network, numerous moorings, piers and warehouses began to appear on the banks of the canal. Today, many of these old buildings and premises have been converted into restaurants, cafes, galleries and boutiques.

Address: Oudegracht Canal, Oudegracht, Utrecht, Netherlands.

House Schroeder. | Photo: Frans de Wit / Flickr.

This small but unique structure in the neo-plasticism style was ahead of its time. It was built in 1924 according to the design of the famous Utrecht architect Gerrit Rietveld. Later, he was quite surprised to learn that his creation was now recognized as an architectural monument and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The house is reminiscent of the abstract matrices of artist Piet Mondrian. The two-story building has no interior walls, food is served in an elevator, furniture can be folded compactly, and all doors open using levers and buttons.

Address: Rietveld Schröderhuis, Prins Hendriklaan, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Residence of the Pope. | Photo: wikimedia.

Typically, only participants of conferences and special events held here are allowed to enter this building. However, no one is prohibited from admiring the exterior of this magnificent 500-year-old mansion.

The building was originally built as a home for Utrecht native Adrian Buijens, who was elected Pope in 1522. Adrian VI became the first and only Dutchman to ascend the papal throne.

Address: Paushuize, Kromme Nieuwegracht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

This is the main building of Utrecht University, located on the corner of the Domplein. Behind a neo-Renaissance façade dating from 1892 are the older ceremonial buildings of Utrecht University.

The oldest room is the auditorium in former building Chapter of 1462. It was here that the Utrecht Agreement was signed in 1579, which, in fact, laid the foundation for the formation of a new legal state - the Republic of the United Provinces of the Netherlands.

Address: Academiegebouw Universiteit Utrecht, Domplein, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Utrecht is a city in the Netherlands, founded in the middle of the first century. It served as a defensive post on the border of the Roman Empire. A little later, representatives of Germanic tribes settled here, whose descendants still live in modern Netherlands.

Utrecht is located in the central part of the country. Its area reaches 100 km2, and the number of inhabitants is 300,000 people. Today it plays the role of the main railway hub of the Netherlands, and its main attractions are ancient architectural buildings, museums and gardens.

Historical fact! In 1579, a union was signed in Utrecht, uniting the Dutch provinces into a single state.

What to see in Utrecht? How to spend a holiday in one of the most major cities the Netherlands, which interesting places worth a look? The answers to all your questions are in this article.

Sights of Utrecht (Netherlands)

Utrecht is a very colorful and diverse city. There are almost 20 museums and 12 parks here, people can go boating and visit ancient castles here. For those staying in the city for a short time, we have selected 8 attractions of Utrecht that you can see in one day.

Utrecht is divided length and breadth by water straits that connect the city with the capital and other provinces of the Netherlands. Unlike Amsterdam, the canals in Utrecht are two-tiered - they are deepened into the ground and seem to divide the city into two parts, one of which is on the embankment, and the second is a level higher, on the streets we are familiar with.

Many tourists, having arrived in the city, immediately go on a circular cruise, others enjoy walking along the embankment and relaxing in coastal cafes. For those who want to independently manage their movements and experience the beauty of water adventures at the same time, there are rental areas for catamarans, boats and canoes throughout the city.

Schroder House

In 1924 there was no time machine, but Schroeder's house already existed. Unique from the point of view of that era, the building today can deservedly be called the most unusual house of all time.

Mr. Schroeder turned out to be one of the few people who manage to satisfy the strange desires of his wife. At her request, the Dutch designer and architect managed to create a house without walls, which later became a museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. All the furniture, designed by Gerrit Rietveld, folds compactly after use, the doors in the rooms open using levers and mechanical buttons, and an elevator runs between the first and second floors to serve food.

Schroeder's House located on the outskirts of the city at Prins Hendriklaan 50. Cost of visiting – 16.5 €, for children from 13 to 17 years old – 8.5 €, from 3 to 12 – 3 €.

Schedule:

• Tue-Thu, Sat-Sun from 11 to 17;
• Friday from 11 to 21.

Important! You can enter the House only with a ticket purchased in advance on the website of the Central Museum of Utrecht - centraalmuseum.nl. Please note that the entrance to the attraction opens every hour to a maximum of 12 tourists.

Botanic Gardens

The oldest botanical gardens in the Netherlands were opened in 1639. Initially, this place was a pharmacy town for students and teachers of the University of Utrecht, but in the 18th century the garden became not just a scientific corner, but also great place for relax.

Over the nearly 400 years of its existence, the Botanic Gardens have changed and expanded several times to eventually become home to almost 18,000 plants from more than 10,000 species. Today you can see here unique specimens from all over the world, many of which are stored in specially equipped greenhouses.

Interesting to know! To take into account the number and types of plants in Botanical gardens A special computer program was developed.

In addition to collections with unique flora, the attraction has a large thematic garden, opened in 1995. This favorite place little travelers, since it is here that they can study the characteristics of plant life using a clear example, as well as get to know them better thanks to innovative equipment.

In the gardens there are many benches, a pond and a cafe. It is better to reschedule a visit to this attraction until the first half of the day in order to have time to admire its beauty before closing. The exact address: Budapestlaan 17, opening hours: from 10 to 16:30. Entry price: 7.5€ for adults, children under 12 free.

Dome Cathedral and its tower (Dom van Utrecht)

The Dome Cathedral, built in the 13th century, is the main religious attraction of Utrecht. Despite the fact that this is one of the most beautiful Gothic churches in the Netherlands, it is not this that attracts tourists, but the huge tower, which offers panoramic views of the city.

It takes a lot of strength and courage to climb to the observation deck. In general, more than 400 steps, a 95-meter height and a long climb up dark spiral staircases do not frighten travelers, but some prefer to admire the surrounding beauty from benches or at cafe tables located in the “bishops’ garden” - the courtyard of the cathedral.

The doors of the temple are open from dawn to dusk, and you can enter completely free of charge. You will only have to pay for a long climb - 9 € for travelers without benefits, 5 € for children aged 4-12 years, 7.5 € for older students and schoolchildren. You can buy tickets in advance on the official website www.domtoren.nl.

Note! Ascent to the observation deck of the tower is carried out in groups every hour. If you want to do beautiful photos Utrecht, and not its tourists, go here an hour or two after opening.

Exact location of the attraction– Domplein 21. The tower is open daily: from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 to 17, on Sunday and Monday from 12 to 17.

Central Museum

Built in 1838, the museum grew from a small collection of ancient paintings into a huge complex located on five floors of several combined buildings. Here is everything you can and need to know about Utrecht - modern city with a very rich cultural heritage. This attraction, in essence, consists of several smaller ones:

1. The Art Gallery, which houses masterpieces by Morels, Scorel, Bokoven, Neumann, Maris and other Dutch artists;
2. the Museum of the Utrecht Archaeological Society, where you can find ancient elements of Dutch culture and rarities dating back more than a thousand years;
3. Central Museum, which tells everything about Utrecht and the city’s inhabitants;
4. Archbishop's Museum with unique religious exhibits.

The entire complex is open daily, except Mondays, from 11 to 17. Full admission price– 13.50 €, for children 13-17 years old – 5.5 €, for younger schoolchildren and preschoolers – free. The attraction is located at Nikolaaskerkhof 10.

Flower market (Bloemenmarkt)

When going to this attraction, be patient and do not take all your money with you. In this flower market, even those who don’t really like these beautiful representatives lose their heads. flora. Huge roses, beautiful tulips, sunflowers, asters and hundreds of hundreds of flowers in pots - all this wealth is sold here every Saturday morning at ridiculous prices.

The cost of bouquets on the market starts from 1-2 euros, and, for example, for 50 gorgeous fresh tulips you can pay only 5-7 euros. Bloemenmarkt also sells lemon and orange trees, indoor palm trees and many other plants. You can please your soul with a portion of pleasant aromas and extraordinary beauty on Janskerkhof Square.

Museum of Automatic Musical Instruments (Museum Speelklok)

Another museum for which the city of Utrecht is famous has the largest collection of jukeboxes in all of the Netherlands. Music boxes and clocks, barrel organs, self-playing pianos, chimes, organs and many other exhibits will sound for you, despite their venerable age.

This interactive museum is very interesting for both adults and children. You can turn the magic mechanism yourself to hear its melody, or literally touch the art by turning the handle of one of the exhibits. Many travelers highly recommend taking a paid tour, as some tools can only be included by a guide.

The attraction is located on Steenweg 6. This is fabulous place open daily from 10 to 17. Entry fee– 13 €, visitors 4-12 years old receive a 50% discount.

Present! You can pay for admission to the museum on the spot, but by ordering tickets online on the official website of the attraction, you can receive an additional gift, for example, a glass of lemonade from the cafeteria.

Railway Museum (Het Spoorwegmuseum)

Another amazing attraction of Utrecht and the Netherlands is the museum railway transport. It is located on the site of the old Maliebaanstation station, which belonged to the Utrecht-Amsterdam line, but was closed in 1921 due to high competition. In the early 2000s, this place was completely reconstructed: most the territories were filled with carriages and locomotives from different eras, and one platform was assigned to fulfill its natural role - a train comes here with central station cities.

As travelers say, visiting the railway museum can take half a day, especially if you are with children. Het Spoorwegmuseum is divided into two halves:

• The first contains the old train station and many ancient exhibits. This part is free, anyone can come here and walk around the carriages, which are unusual for our time;
• The second part contains the most interesting exhibits, a children's interactive area, additional show rooms (for example, a “ride on an old train”), a laboratory where you can conduct physical experiments, a themed store and a cafe. A visit costs 17.5 euros; children under three years old have free admission.

You'll like it! Het Spoorwegmuseum houses many unique exhibits, one of which is the hero of the famous cartoon “The Chuggington Engines,” Wilson.

The museum is open daily except Mondays from 10 am to 5 pm. You can buy tickets on this website www.spoorwegmuseum.nl.

Accommodation

NH Center Utrecht Hotel

Accommodation prices in Utrecht do not stand out among other cities in the Netherlands. There are only a few dozen hotels in the city; minimum prices per night start from 25 € per person (in a hostel). A more comfortable stay in a three-star hotel will cost at least 60 € for two, in a four-star hotel – 80 €.

A more economical option is apartments rented directly from residents of the Netherlands. Renting a one-room apartment with a private kitchen and bathroom will cost at least 40€, but travelers on a tight budget can also rent a room from the hosts for just 20-25€.

Find out PRICES or book any accommodation using this form

Cafes and restaurants

There are a lot of catering establishments in Utrecht, most of them are located in the area of ​​the most popular attractions, on the banks of the canals and in the city center. Food prices in this region of the Netherlands are as follows:

• Lunch in an inexpensive cafe of three courses – 15 € per person;
• Set dinner in an average restaurant for two – from 65 €.

Most establishments offer Italian, French and Mediterranean cuisine.

How to get to Utrecht (Holland)

It is not possible to get to the city directly by plane, since it does not have an airport, and most often travelers will have to fly to the capital of the Netherlands, and from there go to their destination. To cover the 53 km distance between Utrecht and the Netherlands you can use:

• By train. Intercity intercity trains leave Amsterdam Centraal station every half hour from 00:25 to 23:55; they travel to the Utrecht Centraal stop in only 27 minutes. You can buy tickets for 6-12 euros on the Netherlands Railways website;
• Taxi. This trip will take about an hour and cost at least 100 euros. This option may be beneficial for a group of travelers with a lot of luggage.

Compare Housing Prices Using This Form

Utrecht is a city in the Netherlands that can be called one of the most unusual in the country. Visit it and see for yourself. Have a nice trip!

Related posts:

Utrecht is located in the center of the Netherlands and is much more ancient city than all the cities of the coast and Amsterdam. Utrecht traces its history back to an ancient Roman settlement; even the name of the city comes from the Latin word Traectum (from Latin trajectus - crossing). Utrecht was formed at the crossing of the Rhine. All that remains from Roman times in Utrecht are the foundations in the basements of some buildings in the center. Most tourists come to Utrecht to see the unique two-tier embankments and the tallest tower in the country, Utrecht Cathedral.

In addition, the city attracts the attention of people interested in design and architecture. It was in Utrecht that the most famous artist in the Netherlands, illustrator Dick Bruna, and architect Gerrit Rietveld, the same one who built the miracle of functionalism - the Schroeder House in 1924, worked ahead of its era by about 50 years. You can see the fruits of the creativity of the geniuses of the 20th century in the Central Museum of Utrecht.

Garbage fish decorate almost the center of Utrecht

Amsterdam is separated from Utrecht by only 40 km along an excellent road.

The nearest airport is Schipol - 50 km, Rotterdam The Hague Airport - 60 km, Eidenhoven Airport - 93 km.

The Netherlands has excellent railway connections and Uchtrecht is the country's largest railway hub. It can be reached by train from almost any city in the Netherlands and even neighboring countries.

The cost of train travel from Amsterdam Central Station is 8€, directly from Schipol Airport – 9.2€.

The most convenient way to choose your tickets is on the website, which will immediately show the schedule of trains, buses, and ticket prices in Russian. Due to the short distance from Amsterdam, it does not matter whether you travel by train or bus. Both of these modes of transport will take you to Utrecht Central Station.

Utrecht Central Station is within walking distance of the city center.

Parking in Utrecht

Utrecht is the city where street parking is more expensive than in garages and you still have to search hard for it on the streets. Everything is very tightly packed.

If you come to the city only to see the center, then 3 hours will be enough. Therefore, you can afford to park in a garage in the city center. The highest density of parking lots is at the railway station and the adjacent large shopping center Hoog Catharijne, there are as many as 6 of them. P1-P4 - cost 3.50 € per hour, maximum 30 € per day, P5-P6 - cost 4.50 € per hour and 36 € per day. The distance between them is negligible.

If you come by car for several days, then a convenient solution would be P+R parking lots; there are 4 of them in Utrecht. All day parking and a day ticket for public transport is only 5€ for a maximum of 5 people. If you are going back not on the first day, then you need to buy regular tickets for public transport and each next day of parking will cost 5 €.

P+R Utrecht Westraven (ten zuiden van A12)
P+R Utrecht Papendorp (bij A2 en A12)
P+R Utrecht Muziektheater NIET MEER IN GEBRUIK
P+R Utrecht de Uithof (ten zuiden van A28)

If you are traveling around Holland by car, you might be interested to know. In this article I talk about personal experience residence in cottage village and about strange Dutch rules.

Excursions to Utrecht from Amsterdam

From Amsterdam to Utrecht and Castle de Haar, Russian-language excursions are conducted on Saturdays by TezTour. If it is not possible to recruit a group, then the excursion is carried out individually at a group price. Saturday is market day, it will be fun.

In Utrecht itself, individual Russian-language excursions can be booked. If there are more than two of you, it is more profitable to take individual tour, travel from Amsterdam to Utrecht is not at all difficult.

Sights of Utrecht

If you arrived in Utrecht by train or parked in one of the parking lots shopping center Hoog Catharijne The first thing you will see in Utrecht will be Vredenburg Square. On Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays there is a market on the square.

An unfavorable day to visit Utrecht is Monday, many museums are closed.

First I'll talk about free attractions, then I'll move on to museums. Tickets to museums are, as always, not budget-friendly, this is always the case in the Netherlands. Therefore, you will have to choose what to visit and what to leave for next time. Check the current prices for tickets to local museums on the website, I will insert the prices in the article, but they may be out of date.

The city center is very compact, you can get around everything on foot. Castle de Haar is located outside the city (12 km), i.e. You need to go to it on a separate flight.

Two-tier embankments of the Oudegracht canal (Oudegracht)

The very first and main attraction of Utrecht is the Oudegracht canal or simply the old canal. The canal stretches for 2 km and passes through the entire Old city Utrecht. Oudegracht became famous for its two-story embankments. In light of the terrain and local soils, the Rhine River has changed its course several times over the past 10 centuries. It is possible that part of the Oudegracht coincides with the old bed of the Rhine, another part used to be the moat of a local castle. The earth formed during the digging of the rest of the canal was simply dumped onto the bank, and it naturally became higher. Back in the 12th century, a dam with locks was built upstream and the water level in the Utrecht canal dropped significantly and became manageable.

There's the city hall in the distance with its columns

As a result, merchant houses that previously stood on the banks of the river found themselves much further from the water and higher, and it became more difficult to carry goods from boats on the river to warehouses in houses. Therefore, it was decided to dig underground passages from the piers directly into the basements of the houses where goods were stored. Initially, there were no embankments on the shore, there were berths, but gradually everything became so dense that the berths turned into one continuous line. In the fifteenth century, a two-kilometer-long harbor with a two-tiered promenade was created, which over the following centuries was the lifeblood of the city of Utrecht.

At the end of the 19th century, the piers and cellars lost their commercial importance, and a period of decline began. In 1948, the municipality of Utrecht acquired ownership of the quays and quay walls, after which the process of their restoration and standardization began.

Since the 1960s, several dock cellars have been used as entertainment venues for young people, such as discos. Then restaurateurs paid attention to the former dock cellars. Nowadays, almost along the entire length of the canal, on the first tiers of the embankments there are cafes, bars, and restaurants. Food and drinks for these establishments are delivered on a special beer barge, which is more convenient. Almost all of Utrecht's most important sights are located along the Old Canal.

Early 20th century building, the first department store in the Netherlands Winkel van Sinkel

Girl on a carousel horse. Pieter d'Hont. 1986

Dome Cathedral in Utrecht

Until 1898, when St. Bavo's Cathedral was opened in Haarlem, Utrecht Dom Cathedral was the only cathedral church in the Netherlands. The cathedral has the tallest tower in the country - 112.32 m, and it was the longest cathedral before the collapse of the main nave; now the longest church is in the city of Gouda.

Domplein - square in front of the Dome Cathedral

St. Martin's Cathedral or Dome Cathedral stands exactly on the site of an ancient Roman fortress. The city of Utrecht began from this place. Numerous excavations were carried out around the square, confirming the coexistence of the fortress and early Christian churches. Three times a day (except Mondays) they conduct special excursions through the dungeons of the church, where they show and talk about all the artifacts found; tickets (12.50 €) for this event must be purchased in advance on the DOMunder website. The tour is conducted in English and Dutch.

Wikipedia tells a rather murky story about the numerous churches that previously stood on the site of the current Dome Cathedral; it tells that the present building of the Dome Cathedral was built from 1284 to 1520 (236 years). By 1520, builders' enthusiasm had waned as Reformation ideas spread. The cathedral was never completed; the vaults over the central nave were not completed; instead, a wooden roof was made. On March 3, 1580, the Calvinists invaded the Catholic church at that time and staged a pogrom, traces of which can be observed to this day; in particular, they knocked off the faces of all the sculptures and bas-reliefs.

Main altar

A very ancient cross. Burial with knocked down bas-reliefs and contemporary art from above. Exhibition of contemporary art.

On August 1, 1674, a tornado swept over Utrecht, collapsing the main nave of the cathedral and many more houses and churches in the city and surrounding area. It is curious that the local population decided that this was God’s punishment for holding Catholic services in the cathedral during the French occupation of 1672-1673. The final clearing of the wreckage took place only in 1826, i.e. after 152 years. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the cathedral underwent numerous restorations. There have been proposals to even complete the nave that collapsed in the 17th century and give the cathedral completeness, but so far this project has not received mass support.

The Dome Cathedral can be visited for a donation, it looks quite modest from the inside, like many other Protestant churches. The cathedral tower does not belong to the church. Climbing the tower is paid, only with an excursion, conducted 8 times a day, you will have to go up on foot, the event is not recommended for children under 8 years old. Tickets can be purchased either at the Utrecht tourist information office located next door or on the tower's official website. The cost of the pleasure is 10€.

Adjacent to the cathedral building is the cloister of the former monastery - Pandhof van de Dom. What kind of monastery it was and what its history is, I still don’t understand. Now the cloister and nearby buildings belong to Utrecht University. The place is very cozy, cute and extremely photogenic.

Bronze statue (1913) of 14th-century canon Hugo Westink

I'm in the monastery courtyard of the Dome Cathedral

Rune stone in Utrecht

In 1936, on the Domplein (the square in front of the Dome Cathedral), on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of Utrecht University, a copy of the famous rune stone from the Danish city of Jelling was installed. The original was installed by Harald I Bluetooth in the 10th century. On the stone it is written:

King Harald erected this stone in honor of Gorm his father and Tyra his mother. Harald, who conquered all of Denmark and Norway, who baptized the Danes.

The main significance is the reference to the baptism of the Danes. In general, the Dutch, Danes and Germans are very close peoples to each other; their self-names are dansk (Danish), dutch (Dutch), deutsch (German).

Replica of the runestone from Jelling Harold Bluetooth, Utrecht, 1936

Papal House (Paushuize)

Paushuize second oldest Historical building Utrecht. It was built by the only Dutch Pope, Adrian VI.

Or rather, Pope Adrian VI built the house before he became Pope. He hoped to return to Utrecht someday. In 1522 he was elected Pope and died a year later in Rome, so he never got to live in his home in Utrecht. Paushuize is famous for its magnificent interior. In the 19th century, the building became the residence of the royal commissioner. Today, part of the building can be rented for events; without events, it can only be viewed from the outside.

House of the Pope

Letters from Utrecht

Letters from Utrecht form an endless poem on the pavement in the city center. Every Saturday at 13:00 they carve the next letter on the next cobblestone, intending to continue until the Saturdays stop. The average proposal takes about three years to publish. Every year the poem increases by about five meters. Every few years, the next poet continues the poem. The poem began to be published on the pavement on May 30 and 31, 2012; for the first time, 648 letters were written at once to make the beginning clear. This is a unique manifestation of modern art.

Museum of Jukeboxes or Boxes (Museum Speelklok)

The Music Box Museum is unexpectedly considered the most visited and most popular museum in the city. Children will definitely like it there; there is a special room where you can touch and twirl everything. The Museum displays numerous music boxes and street organs. The reproduction technology is reminiscent of the punched tapes and punched cards that were used just recently. Below I will insert a promotional video for the museum. Combined tickets for the Dome Cathedral Tower + Museum of Caskets = 18€ are available at the museum box office, saving 5€. The museum is located 200 meters from Dome Square.

From Dom Square to the Central Museum of Utrecht it is only 900 meters; it is most convenient to walk along the Oudegracht canal and only at the very end of the road turn left onto Nikolaasstraat.

Central Museum Utrecht

The city museum is rightly proud of the collection of paintings by artists of the Golden Age, presented by the school of Utrecht Caravaggists. At the beginning of the 17th century, a group of Utrecht artists went to, horror of horrors, Catholic Rome. By that time, about a third of the Catholic residents remained in Utrecht, but they were strictly prohibited from holding church services. And there the Dutch artists absorbed Italian colors, sun, air, and became acquainted with the works of Caravaggio and Michelangelo. The paintings of Dirk van Baburen, Hendrik Terbruggen, Willem van Honthorst are strikingly different from the strict paintings of the followers of Calvinism; they radiate light and joy. Below is a promotional video of the museum - a two-minute overview of the exhibition.

A special part of the Central Museum is the studio of Dick Brun (1927-2017), one of the most famous illustrators and graphic designers in the Netherlands. Dick Bruna invented many hand-drawn characters for children's books, the most famous among them being the rabbit Miffy (Nijntje), a favorite of Dutch children. Across the street from the Central Museum is the Miffy Bunny Children's Museum, but it's more like a big playroom with a Dick Brun theme.

The Utrecht City Museum displays the richest collection of conceptual furniture from the Dutch architect and designer Gerrit Rietveld (1888 -1964), who built the famous Schröder house.

The Utrecht Central Museum is 1.8 km from the Schröder House. At the time of construction, the Schroeder house was located on the very outskirts of the city. On the one hand, it’s a bit far, but on the other hand, not everyone will want to look at the Schroeder house. If you don’t take a tour of the house, then it’s not worth walking there at all; the photo fully reflects everything that can be seen there.

House Schroeder

The Rietveld Schröder House is an architectural highlight of the De Stijl artistic movement. The house was designed by Utrecht architect and designer Gerrit Rietveld for the widow of Truus Schröder in 1924. The house was not only designed, but also decorated by Gerrit Rietveld. For 1924 this was a revelation. Looking at this house you think that it was built yesterday, it’s not for nothing that it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Inside, everything is just as functional and unusual for the beginning of the 20th century - sliding partitions, multi-colored functional furniture.

House Schröder, 1924

The Schroeder House can only be visited with a guided tour by appointment through the official website; the cost of visiting, as elsewhere in the Netherlands, is not small - 17 €. No more than 10 people are allowed in at a time; the house is small, after all, it was built for a single widow with three children. Tours are in English and Dutch only.

Castle de Haar in Utrecht

Castle de Haar was essentially rebuilt in the 19th century according to all the rules and with all possible amenities available at that time on the site of an ancient, but completely destroyed medieval castle. The building became famous for its belonging to Baroness Rothschild, for its neo-Gothic style architecture and design. Castle de Haar is the largest castle in the Netherlands. Below I will insert a promotional video of the castle, the design is truly impressive, a very beautiful video.

Castle de Haar is located in the suburbs of Utrecht, 12 km from the Dome Cathedral, so you definitely can’t reach it on foot; you’ll need transport. From Utrecht Central Station you can take bus number 9 to the castle. The cost of visiting, alas, is high as always - 17 € castle with park, 6 € parking, only the park - 6 €. Check the opening hours and cost of visiting on the official website of Castle de Haar, and also check the possibility of traveling by public transport, there are different options.

Utrecht became the second continental city of the Netherlands that I saw, after. And yes, cities that are located inland differ from coastal cities in their softer attitude towards religion and their Roman past. The Netherlands, even with its tiny size, is a rather heterogeneous country. The southern continental part is more like Belgium.

| 2 | 636, today 27 |

Utrecht is a fairly large city by Dutch standards; as many as 300 thousand people live here, almost like in Tambov! But despite the status of a “metropolis”, the town has not lost its medieval charm. Utrecht is famous not only for its ancient Dutch houses on charming streets, but also for the tallest cathedral in the country, as well as its unique “two-story” canals. We will tell you about all this now.

The city of Utrecht in the Netherlands: attractions with photos and descriptions, how to get there and what to see, hotels and reviews

A short guide to Utrecht. Content

All of Holland in one photo. Utrecht is the typical Netherlands as we imagine it.

Utrecht: history with geography

As already mentioned, Utrecht is one of the largest cities in Holland, it ranks fourth in population after Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague. And at the same time one of the oldest: it was here at the beginning of our era that the northern border of the Roman Empire passed. In the place where the tallest cathedral in Holland now stands, in the 1st century AD. e. a Roman fortress and a small village appeared. In the 3rd century, the Romans abandoned the fortress, but the village remained, and it still stands here to this day, now with the status of a city. Moreover, a very important city for the Dutch. After all, it was here that the Union of Utrecht was concluded in 1579 - a military-political union of the Dutch provinces, from which the struggle for independence against the Spaniards and the unification of the Netherlands into a single country began (and successfully ended).

But let’s leave all this to historians, and for ordinary tourists like you and me Utrecht is an opportunity to find yourself in good old Holland. The city center is like a picture from a fairy tale book come to life: colorful small houses, ancient churches, narrow winding streets and canal embankments lined with time-blackened stone. Two-level embankments, by the way. We will now tell you in more detail about these and other attractions of Utrecht.

Good old Holland. My favorite photo of Utrecht.

The main attractions of Utrecht: TOP 5

1. St. Martin's Dome Cathedral

Utrecht Cathedral took about three hundred years to build, from the 13th to the 16th centuries. Initially, the main cathedral of Utrecht was Catholic, but at the end of the 16th century it became Protestant. Since then, the faces of the saints on the frescoes of the cathedral have been covered with paint or simply chipped off. But not all.

Top attractions in Utrecht, Netherlands: the interior decoration of the Dome Cathedral is Protestantly modest.

2. Bell tower of the Dome Cathedral

Why does the bell tower stand apart from it on our list of Utrecht attractions? Yes, because in reality it stands alone! Initially, the cathedral and its bell tower were a single building. But in the 17th century, a powerful hurricane destroyed the central part of the cathedral, “separating” the bell tower from the rest of the building. The church was repaired only in the 19th century, but they did not connect the bell tower and the cathedral. So they stand apart. By the way, the height of the bell tower is 112 meters, it is the highest in Holland. At the top is located Observation deck, where you can go up as part of an excursion.

The bell tower of Utrecht Cathedral is visible from almost anywhere in the city, and from it in clear weather you can even see Amsterdam.

3. Utrecht University

One of the oldest universities in Holland, founded in the first half of the 17th century. It is famous not only for its beautiful architecture, but also for producing several Nobel Prize winners in physics and economics.

Utrecht University is one of the oldest and most beautiful in Holland.

4. Town Hall (Lichtenberg Castle)

Utrecht Town Hall is located in a beautiful 12th-century castle. It used to belong to the wealthy Van Lichtenberg family, but the building was bought by the emperor, rebuilt in places, and city officials have been meeting here since the beginning of the 19th century.

Two sights of Utrecht in one photo: Lichtenberg Castle (left) looks best in the frame with the bell tower of the Dome Cathedral.

5. Embankment of the Old Canal

The canals are the main attractions of Utrecht and all of Holland, but only in this city they are two-story! The two-tier embankment of the Old Canal was built in the 13th century. On ground floor there were warehouses and production facilities; on the upper floor they sold goods delivered along the Old Canal to the city. For just 8 euros per hour, you can rent a kayak or other watercraft and enjoy views of Utrecht's landmarks from the water.

Previously, there were warehouses on the first floors of the Old Canal, now there are souvenir shops and cozy cafes.

Main attractions of Utrecht on the city map

How to get to Utrecht from different cities in Holland

Utrecht is very conveniently located at the crossroads of the country's main railway lines. Therefore, Utrecht is the largest railway hub in Holland, and getting here by train (as well as getting out of here) is very easy. We tell you how to get to Utrecht from Amsterdam and other major cities in the Netherlands. You can always check the current train schedule and ticket prices on the website Dutch railways .

From Utrecht train station you immediately enter the medieval streets of the city.

1. How to get from Amsterdam to Utrecht

The distance from Amsterdam to Utrecht is only 45 km. Direct trains from Amsterdam Centraal station to Utrecht Centraal station run at intervals of 10-20 minutes, the journey takes just under half an hour, tickets cost from 8 euros.

2. How to get from Eindhoven to Utrecht

Are you arriving in Holland on a Pobeda flight and are looking for information on how to get from Eindhoven to Utrecht? Nothing could be simpler. At any time convenient for you, come to Eindhoven main station and buy a train ticket to Utrecht for 15.2 euros. Trains depart every 10 minutes and the journey takes 48 minutes.

3. How to get from The Hague to Utrecht

There are also direct, non-stop trains from The Hague to Utrecht. Ticket price is from 11.7 euros, the journey takes 37 minutes. Trains depart from Den Haag Centraal station several times an hour.

4. How to get from Rotterdam to Utrecht

Many tourists come to Utrecht from Amsterdam or other large cities for just one day, believing that this is enough. But don't forget that this is a big one. old City with interesting sights and many beautiful streets, so if you want to really enjoy Utrecht, you can spend the night here (although we don’t insist). Choose a hotel and city you like on Booking, and have a happy trip to Holland!

London is a capital of Great Britain. Something similar can be said about Utrecht. Not about the capital of Britain, of course, but in the same vein: the fourth most populous in the Netherlands, the oldest university, a railway junction... Maybe not?

Let's just celebrate the famous, beautiful and unusual places Utrecht, where it wouldn't hurt to stick your nose in. And yes, have no doubt: going to Utrecht is a must. It's cool there.

The Dome Cathedral

Dome Cathedral in Utrecht

The central building of Utrecht, a local version of the Kremlin and the Eiffel Tower. The cathedral's bell tower seems to encircle the entire city, and perhaps the whole country: it is the tallest church in the Netherlands and the tallest building in the province. Climbing up, you can even see the roofs of Amsterdam - of course, with binoculars and in good weather.

The House is also interesting because the bell tower and the cathedral building are located at some distance from each other. The reason is a hurricane, which in 1674 collapsed the central part of the church. The outlines of stone walls can still be seen in the square.

Where: Achter de Dom 1

Two-story or two-tier channels

Canals in Utrecht

Utrecht, like the rest of Holland, is cut up and down by canals. Only, unlike other cities, the canals here are built “on two floors”: narrow promenade embankments go down to the water itself, and residential buildings stand higher. This design, like many things in the Netherlands, was invented by medieval merchants. In the lower tier, right next to the pier, there were warehouses, and above there were trading shops. Well, now there are cafes and restaurants on the picturesque lower floor.

Where: Oudegracht

Castle De Haar

Castle De Haar near Utrecht

The oldest and largest castle in the Netherlands is located near Utrecht. Surrounded by a moat and a fortress wall, equipped with a suspension bridge and towers, de Haar is an excellent illustration of the turbulent Middle Ages.
In the surrounding area there is a park, which the Dutch call “little Versailles”, and in de Haar itself, according to legend, the ghost of a local prince lives.

Where: Kasteellaan 1 3455 RR Haarzuilens

Trajectum Lumen

Trajectum Lumen

Unusual. Night. Free tour. Is it just me, or have I intrigued you?

Trajectum Lumen is a regular light show that can be seen on the streets of Utrecht all year round. We can say that this is ordinary lighting - but it was done interestingly, professionally and in some places unexpectedly. Artists create compositions on asphalt, on walls and roofs, in tunnels and under bridges. Perhaps this The best way see another side of Utrecht.
The Trajectum Lumen card can be obtained free of charge from the tourism office, or downloaded from trajectumlumen.com

Gardens of Pandhof van Sinte Marie

Once upon a time, the Mariakerk church stood on the site of the gardens. Under the weight of centuries, some buildings crumbled, and in their place a cozy garden was laid out. Now this is one of the most pleasant places in Utrecht, and the surrounding architecture is attractive.

Where: Utrecht, Mariasplaats

Boat ride along the canals of Utrecht

Perhaps this is a must-see when visiting any Dutch city. It’s also worth doing here for the sake of the immediate surroundings. Utrecht, like Amsterdam, is surrounded by a system of forts, locks and polders (flooded for the defense of territories), which you definitely need to take a look at at least once.

Rent a boat:

• Oudegracht 4 (advance booking required!)
• Rhijnauwen 2

Where to stay in Utrecht?

A very good hostel of the Stayokay chain - Stayokay Utrecht Centrum is located in the city center on Neude Square, a short walk from the train station. The hostel has both multi-bed and private double rooms with all amenities. These hotels can be an alternative:

Perhaps we'll end here. A map of Utrecht attractions can be obtained from the tourism office (identified by the letters VVV), or from the hotel reception. Have a nice sunny day and a nice walk.