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Although settlements in the area can be traced to the Stone Age, Utrecht, like so many cities, rose to prominence with the arrival of the Romans who built a fort near the banks of the River Rhine around which a settlement grew. Remains of the original Roman city wall can still be seen today.
By the twelfth century Utrecht had become an important centre for trade thanks to its position on the Rhine, and was granted city status in 1122. Many of Utrecht's most historic buildings, and particularly churches and the city's magnificent Gothic cathedral date from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and form what is now known as the city's Medieval Centre.
This is where Utrecht's almost unique inner-city wharf can be found, on the Oudegracht Canal which runs through the heart of the city. Today the ancient merchant's storehouses have been converted into shops, restaurants and cafes with attractive canal-side terraces.
Whilst admiring Utrecht's outstanding architecture - both historic and modern - and exploring its many museums are fine ways to pass time in the city there is plenty more to see and do. Hiring a bicycle offers an enjoyable means of exploring this vibrant and colourful university city, and for many visitors an open-topped boat cruise along the picturesque canal is a must.
Utrecht's sights and attractions
St Martin's Cathedral
The construction, in the Dutch-Gothic style of St Martin's
Cathedral (also known as the Dom Church) began in 1284 and ended in
1520. Its separate bell tower, the 112 metre tall Domtoren is the
tallest in the Netherlands and can be climbed to obtain spectacular
views, with the distant cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam visible
on clear days.
Grachtengebied
Utrecht's historic split-level canal system (street level and canal
level) is both hugely picturesque and fascinating to explore
whether on foot - the old part of the city is largely
pedestrianised, or from the water itself where boat-trips and
water-bicycles can be obtained.
Rietveld-Schröderhuis
The Rietveld-Schröderhuis, built in 1924 by Utrecht architect
Gerrit Rietveld is a UNESCO-listed site and a remarkable building.
Constructed in the contemporary and abstract De Stijl architectural
style, which dictates only the use of primary colours, squares,
rectangles and straight lines, Rietveld-Schröderhuis is an
avant-garde architectural curiosity.
Fort Hoofddijk Botanic Gardens
Fort Hoofddijk, part of the campus of the University of Utrecht,
features beautiful botanic gardens where visitors may admire more
than six thousand different species of plants and flowers,
collected over 350 years. Highlights include a ten-metre high
Alpine rock garden and waterfall, and a collection of plants from
the rainforests of South America.
Discover the magnificent floral displays of the Keukenhof Gardens and enjoy a talk onboard ship from television personality Charlie Dimmock on this wonderfully diverse cruise on the enchanting Belgian and Dutch waterways.
On this tour we uncover the beautiful historic cities of Amsterdam, Ghent and Antwerp as well as the Battlefields of Ypres, the spectacular Keukenhof tulips and the Hoorn-Medemblik steam train. We also enjoy a talk from army veteran and battlefields expert Colonel Piers Storie-Pugh OBE on this memorable river cruise.
… see more8 days from £1,395 pp
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By Persephone Hallow
12 April 2017
River cruising is becoming one of the most popular holiday choices, particularly for leisurely travellers over 60, offering a scenic escape with some wonderful perks. Today we’re exploring why the river cruise has become so popular in recent years, and whether it might just be the right holiday for you.
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Excellent travel to/from Amsterdam and the ship was first class. Good choice of destinations throughout. The only negative - WiFi. In this day and age and bearing in mind our location and the quality of the ship, I would expect good WiFi connectivity throughout.