Utrecht Vacations, Utrecht Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Utrecht Vacation Guide

Utrecht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. Founded by the Romans in 48 A.D. as 'Ultrajectum', meaning; end of the road , because it was here where the roman empire stopped at the shore of the Rhine river. it grew to be the largest Dutch city in the 12th-14th century. At that time the city was the religious center end contained over 50 churches and chapels. Many of them were destroyed when a hurricane hit the town in the 17th century. It was briefly capital of The Netherlands in 1808.

A lot of this medieval heritage can still be found in the city today. Center piece of the town is the famous "Domkerk", a Gothic catherdral, and its tower (the Dom), the highest church tower of the Netherlands. Other famous churches are the Buurkerk (housing a museum for mechanical instruments) and the Catherijnekerk (seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Netherlands) and part of the "Catherijneconvent" (the National museum for religious history and art).

Two canals run north-south through the old center, bordered by wharves and cellars, once used for (un)loading ships and storing goods, but nowadays housing restaurants and terraces. Along the canals the merchant houses and city castles are standing side by side.

Utrecht houses the largest university of the Netherlands and consequently has a large student population.

Utrecht has one of the largest theatres of the Netherlands which is the Beatrix theatre, named after our queen Beatrix. Utrecht also has the "Jaarbeurs" where a lot of big events are being hosted, like the annual fair about travelling & tourism.