A canal cruise boat passes the Lichtegaard terraces in the heart of Utrecht, April 2025.
All roads don't lead to Rome, all roads lead to Utrecht. At least in the Netherlands, since Utrecht is the most centrally located big city of the country. Geography aside, Utrecht has a lot to offer. Its centre canal Oudegracht is prettier than any canal Amsterdam can offer. It includes loads of cute bridges as well, and terraces directly down near the waterline. The historic buildings at the canals are beautiful.
Measured in number of inhabitants (390,000) Utrecht is the fourth-largest city of the Netherlands. On top of that, about 70,000 students - many still registered in their home towns and villages - make sure the city vibes are very vibrant. I used to be one of those students, decades ago. In Utrecht, I obtained my degree in journalism, made friends for life, and after I moved away forgot the city a bit. This illustrated story is a first attempt to show the outside world, you, that Utrecht is certainly worth a visit. The photos up at this moment are from my recent visits in Utrecht, in April 2025.
The Oudegracht canal with the Winkel van Sinkel, which was in 1839 the first department store in the Netherlands.
Oudegracht (The Old Canal)
The pretty canal that flows right through the centre of the Utrecht is simply called Old Canal in Dutch: Oudegracht. The canal is about 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) long and has great spots alongside of it, both higher up as well as at the waterline.
Probably the most impressive building at the Oudegracht is de Winkel van Sinkel (Sinkel's Shop). Opened in 1839 by Anton Sinkel, it was the first department store in the Netherlands. It is no longer a shop, but a restaurant with a grand interior. Do step in.
Sights at the Oudegracht canal.
Including very narrow historic houses.
And old warehouses turned into homes.
Stairs make it easy to reach the lower levels.
Two ladies talking.
Restaurant De Heeren van Leeuw (The Gentlemen of Lion)
A lady enjoying the spring sun.
Parked bicycle at an Oudegracht bridge and the Domtoren bell tower
Gaardbrug
The area between the Gaardbrug and Maartensbrug bridges is probably the pretties part of the centre canal.
Detailed view of the historic buildings here.
Under the Gaardbrug bridge
Further south the Oudegracht canal gets more quiet
The Dom Tower and church
With 112 metres (368 feet) up in the sky, the Domtoren is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands. When it was built between 1321 and 1382, it was meant to be the proudest part of a giant cathedral, built on the spot where Utrecht - according to the legends - started. Between the tower and the church is a gap of about 50 to 70 metres. Here the mid-section of the church collapsed in a storm in 1674.
The Dom tower with the Gaardbrug bridge in front.
Passway through the Dom toren.
The Dom church.
Utrecht University
Since 1636, Utrecht has its own university - with nowadays 40,000 students attending. Since the 1960s, much of the university faculties - and also sub-university institutions (polytechnic) have moved to the outskirts of the city: De Uithof. What remains in the centre is the main building of the Utrecht University, the Academy Building, situated somewhat behind the Dom tower. In an adjacent hall of this building, a canteen nowadays, the Union of Utrecht was signed on 23 January 1579. During this deal, provinces and city of the low countries jointly decided to rise against the Habsburger empire - thus marking the beginning of the birth of the Netherlands as a country.
The Utrecht University Academy Building.
Noteworthy parts of the old town
Stroll around the old town of Utrecht and one finds little gems. Choose to cross the bridges of the Oudegracht canal and side streets might bring you some great atmosphere. A few noteworthy ones collected here.
Lange Smeestraat
With art on the wall.
De Haverstraat ...
... ends at Springweg.
De Stadsbuitengracht (City Outer Canal) is flanked by one of the oldest city parks of the Netherlands. In 1830, it was constructed, running parallel to the former city wall.
Barber shop in the old bridge guard house of the Vaartscherijnbrug.
Cultural centre in the former police station. Built in 1927 in the style of the Amsterdam School, desigend by Johannes Izak Planjer.
Catherijnesingel (Catherine Canal)
As long as I remember, the Catherijnesingel was a motorway going right through Utrecht. Only those born and of relative age in 1973 remember water flowed here. But in 2020, the city of Utrecht reopened the canal with its old glory, after almost two decades of restoring work. The canal is a nice place to stroll along, walk or take a break. Cars still drive on the western bank, but in much less densities as when the canal was nothing more than a name of a main road.
The Inktpot (The Inkwell)
The former head offices of the national Dutch railways NS is situated on the western bank of the Catherijnesingel, or at the railways on the other side, depending on your view. Designed by railroads engineer G.W. van Heukelom, the Inkwell is the largest brick building in the Netherlands. Old railroad sections were used for its foundation, when it was built between in 1919 and 1921. According to the statistics, about 22 million bricks were used, as well as 4,000 cubic metres (141,259 ft3) of oak timber. Nowadays, the Netherlands' national railroad infrastructure organisation ProRail has its head offices in the Inkwell.
An eye-catcher at the Inkwell is the UFO, a 12-metre wide flying saucer that "landed" on top of the building in the year 2000, as part of the art exhibition Panorama.
The "Inkwell", the largest brick building of the Netherlands.
