Utrecht Attractions

Close to the Geertekerk is the Bartholomeigasthuis, founded in 1407 as an old people's home. The Regents' Room has fine tapestries by the Delft tapestry-weaver Maximilian van der Gucht.

Hoog Catharijne is linked with the new Central Station to the west - the most important junction in the national and international rail network of the Netherlands. Southwest of the station are the Jaarbeurs congress center, with the Trade Fair grounds, and the head office of the Rabo-Bank.

Utrecht Cloth Market.
Utrecht is known for the large cloth market held weekly.

Den Dubbelden Arend is Utrecht's oldest bakery. Visitors can still see the original shop and baking equipment.

Near the south end of the Oude Gracht, at the corner of Tolsteegzijde and Eligenstraat, can be seen a Frisian sacrificial stone attached to a chain which is associated with the Devil in an old legend.

Off the Oude Gracht to the west is the 13th century Geertekerk (restored 1956), now occupied by the Remonstrants (a sect also known as the Arminians after their spiritual father Arminius).

The Gemeentemuseum portrays life for the Jewish community in Maassluis.

At the northeast end of the Maliebaan, on the right, lies the little Hoogelandse Park and south of this, in Koningslaan, is the Wilhelminapark.

In the Nieuwe Gracht, which runs south from the Pausdam, can be found the former House of the Teutonic Order.

On the left-hand side of the picturesque Oude Gracht (Weerdzijde), at No. 99, stands Huis Oudaen, a fortress-like patrician house of the 14th century with a fine doorway of 1680. The treaty of Utrecht (1713) which ended the War of the Spanish Succession was signed in this house. Restored in 1986, it is now a popular restaurant. On the opposite side of the gracht is Huis Drakenburg, which may be even older than Huis Oudaen.

To the east of the Binnengracht, which runs along the side of the old town, extends the famous Maliebaan, a 750m/820yd long avenue of lime trees. In 1672-73 it was spared by the French army on the express orders of Louis XIV.

A number of markets, in which a great variety of stores can be found, are scattered throughout Utrecht.

From the Janskerkhof, Nobelstraat runs east to the Lucasbolwerk (bastion), now laid out in gardens, and the Stadsschouwburg (Utrecht's Municipal Theater), designed by Dudok (1940).

In the old Maliebaan Station, at Johan van Oldenbarneveltlaan 6, is the Netherlands Railroad Museum (Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum), which offers an excellent survey of public transport, particularly railroads and tram systems, with models and old vehicles and rolling stock.
The building most recently renovated in the early 2000s.

To the east of the Oude Gracht along Potterstraatin Utrecht lies the Neude. In this square are the imposing Head Post Office (1919-24) and, opposite it to the south, the Neudeflat, a 15-story tower block (1963) occupied by the municipal administration. In Voorstraat, which branches off the northeast corner of the square, is the Vleeshuis (Meat Hall; 1637).

Oude Gracht Flower Market.
The Flower Market on Oude Gracht takes place on Saturdays.

At the north end of the Oude Gracht is St Jacobikerk (Reformed), founded in 1173 and rebuilt in 1423 as a Gothic hall-church. Between 1476 and 1500 two new choirs and two chapels were built. The tower (1334) was badly damaged by a hurricane in 1674 and restored only in 1953.

In Nicolaaskerkhof, southwest of the Centraal Museum, stands St Nicolaïskerk, a cruciform church with two Romanesque towers (12th C.). In one of the towers is a carillon by the Hemony brothers.

To the northeast of Janskerkhof are the State Archives (entrance in the Drift). Close by, in Wittevrouwenstraat, the University Library contains some hundreds of thousands of volumes, as well as manuscripts, including such famous items as the 11th century Utrecht Psalter.

The The Netherlands Mint Museum is housed inthe same building as the Royal Dutch Mint. Exhibits include pictures of coin production in the Netherlands from the beginning of the Christian era up to the euro.

To the left of St Jacobikerk is Vredenburg (Vreeburg), a large and busy square on the site of the castle of Vredenburg, destroyed in 1577.