Utrecht: From Roman Fort to Dutch Republic

Utrecht is a city in the Netherlands that has a rich history, culture, and architecture. Here are some facts about Utrecht that you might find interesting:

Utrecht is the fourth-largest city of the Netherlands, as well as the capital and the most populous city of the province of Utrecht. It has a population of 361,699 as of December 2021.

Utrecht was founded by the Romans in around 50 CE as a fortification (castellum) on the river Rhine, which was then called Traiectum. It later became the religious centre of the Netherlands and the site of the Union of Utrecht, which established the Dutch Republic in 1579.

Utrecht has a beautiful city centre that features many buildings and structures dating back to the High Middle Ages, such as the Dom Tower, the Cathedral of St. Martin, and the Oudegracht canal. The city also has many parks, museums, and cultural events to offer.

Utrecht is home to Utrecht University, the largest university in the Netherlands, as well as several other institutions of higher education. It is also an important hub for both rail and road transport, as it has the busiest train station in the Netherlands, Utrecht Centraal.

Utrecht is known for its cycling culture, as it has the largest bicycle parking lot in the world, with room for 12,500 bikes. It also has many traffic lights that feature the silhouette of Miffy, a popular children’s book character created by Utrecht-born author Dick Bruna.