Top 15 Utrecht Attractions, Netherlands

The Dutch respect and cherish their culture, history, architecture and traditions. And the city of Utrecht in the heart of the Netherlands is a clear confirmation of this. During its history, it has been part of different tribes, empires and kingdoms. Was pagan, Catholic, Protestant. Therefore, its historical and cultural heritage is rich and varied.

The program of acquaintance with Utrecht can be divided into 2 parts - cognitive and walking and entertaining. The first includes ancient cathedrals, temples and castles. It is here that the highest church and the largest castle of the country are located. Of interest are the museums of Utrecht - Railway, Jukeboxes, Schroeder's house. The main components of the second part of the program are luxurious parks and gardens, picturesque canals and embankments, cozy pubs and restaurants.

What to see and where to go in Utrecht?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

Canals of Utrecht

Numerous water channels with moorings are one of the main attractions of the city. On a catamaran, boat or canoe, you can go on an exciting excursion. The Oudegracht is the main canal built in the 12th century and runs through the historic center of Utrecht. It is two-tiered. An additional floor between the water level and the main street used to be used for unloading goods, there were warehouses here. Today, the ground floor is occupied by restaurants and cafes.

Utrecht Cathedral with tower

Medieval gothic temple with the highest bell tower in the Netherlands. Its height is 112 meters. 465 steps lead to the observation deck. The main building of the cathedral is separated from the tower. This is due to the fact that part of the structure was destroyed in 1674 by a strong hurricane and was not restored. Today, divine services, organ concerts, choral singing are held in the cathedral. In the courtyard there is the Bishops' Garden and a covered arcade with large stained glass windows.

flower market

The Dutch are very sensitive to the cultivation of flowers, especially tulips, and care for them. There are flower markets in all major cities. In Utrecht, it is located on the Janskerhof square, it works on Saturdays. The selection of flowers, houseplants, trees, herbs and seeds is simply incredible. And the prices are quite reasonable - a bouquet of 50 luxurious freshly cut tulips will cost only 5-7 euros. There are many bars and cafes in the area where you can have a bite to eat.

Railway Museum

Utrecht serves as the main transport hub of the Netherlands. Therefore, it is not surprising that the railway museum was opened here. It was located in the station building, which was closed in 1921. It is a large exhibition hall with models of stations, a collection of wagons and locomotives from different times. Children will be interested in a mini-train, an interactive zone, showrooms. A cafe and a theme shop are open to visitors. A train runs from the central city station to the museum.

Jukebox Museum

The unusual museum has been welcoming visitors since 1956. It is located in the oldest church in the city, built in 1279. His collection includes a variety of mechanical music devices from the 18th century to the present day. Among them are music boxes, toys, clocks and mechanical organs, pianolas, hurdy-gurdies and other mechanisms. Most of the exhibits are functional. Some can even be started with your own hands, but only in the presence of a guide.

Utrecht Central Museum

The huge museum complex is located in the building of the former monastery of St. Agnes. One of the oldest in the Netherlands, founded in 1838. Includes an art gallery with masterpieces by Dutch artists, a collection of medieval sculptures, jewelry, historical costumes, furniture, an archaeological exhibition, an archbishop's museum with religious exhibits, an exposition on the theme of the city and its inhabitants . There is a children's room with play workshops.

DOMunder

You can get acquainted with the centuries-old history of Utrecht, see unique archaeological finds, being at a depth of 4.7 meters under the Dome Square. It is here that the original underground museum is located, created in 2014 using the most modern technologies. Visitors are given interactive lights that illuminate the exhibits, and the audio guide provides complete information about them. The entrance to the museum is possible only by one staircase.

Museum of Religious Art

It is located in the building of a Catholic convent built in the 12th century. Open to visitors since 1978. It contains the largest collection of Christian art in the country from the early Middle Ages to the present day. Among the exhibits are church clothes, paintings by famous Dutch artists, ancient manuscripts, books, sculptures, unique artifacts made of gold and silver. Visitors are offered an audio tour of the halls of the museum in several languages.

Miffy Museum

Utrecht is the birthplace of artist Dick Brown, creator of Miffy the Bunny. This cute hero of children's books and cartoons is known all over the world. One of the city museums is even dedicated to him. Here are toys, sculptures, books, postcards with your favorite hero. There are several colorful play areas with different themes, across the road is a Miffy souvenir shop. The museum is designed for young and middle-aged children. A child ticket costs 3 times more than an adult.

Theater "Beatrix"

It is located in the city center, on Jarbeurs Square. Named after the reigning queen of the Netherlands. This is a musical theater where musicals are mainly staged. Was created in 1999. The opening was marked by the production of one of the most successful musicals - Chicago. Designed for 1500 spectators. The lobby houses an exhibition of paintings and sketches by contemporary artists and famous musicians. In front of the entrance there is a 5-meter sculptural composition called "Exposure".

Botanical Garden

One of the most picturesque and quiet corners of Utrecht. Age - almost 400 years. Owned by the local university. It occupies an area of ​​8 hectares. It contains greenhouses, a complex of pools, a system of gardens. There was a place for more than 10 thousand species of plants, many birds, reptiles and butterflies. There is a specialized shop, cafe, benches for rest. Excursions are planned in such a way as to show visitors the plants that are currently at their peak.

"Wilhelminapark"

Historical park in the eastern part of the city. Opened to visitors in 1898. It was then that the young Queen Wilhelmina ascended the throne. The design of the park was created in the style of English landscaped gardens. Today it is one of the most beautiful parks in the Netherlands, with a large body of water and numerous old trees. There is a beach area, places for picnics, and the embankment along the reservoir is a suitable place for walking and playing sports.

Observatory Sonnenborg

It is located within the walls of an ancient building, which was part of the city bastion in the 16th century. Founded in 1853 on the initiative of the University of Utrecht. The observatory is public, everyone can observe celestial bodies, but only from September to April. There are 4 telescopes, one of them is the oldest in Europe. Also in the building there is a museum of astronomy and meteorology, a separate exposition is devoted to the history of the bastion.

House Schroeder

It is under the protection of UNESCO. A unique building in the style of neoplasticism, built almost 100 years ago. It's hard to believe, because its unusual design still arouses admiration today. Built according to the idea of ​​Truss Schroeder, she lived here until 1985. Then the building was restored and turned into a museum. The house has two floors, there are no internal walls, all the furniture folds compactly, an elevator runs between the floors to serve food, the doors open with buttons and levers.

De Haar Castle

Located 20 km from Utrecht, in the village of Harzulens. Majestic castle with numerous towers, gates, bridges, moats around the perimeter, landscaped parks and gardens. One of the most beautiful in Europe. It was built in the 14th century, but acquired its present form after reconstruction in the 19th century. Until 2011, it belonged to the van Zeulen family. Inside the palace - 200 living quarters with luxurious decor, a large collection of paintings, tapestries, porcelain and antique furniture.