Utrecht is a student city, centrally located and very much alive. With over 52,000 students amongst the 233,000 inhabitants, Utrecht has the biggest student population in the Netherlands. The many student unions provide them with more than sufficient opportunities to meet others.

Immediately on walking out of the modern shopping mall Hoog Catherijne, which is connected to Utrecht Central railway station, you find yourself in the beautiful and historic city centre. Your eyes will be drawn to the magnificent Dom church tower, which at 112 metres is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands.

The history of Utrecht dates back to 47 AD. Here the Romans built a fortress near a ford in the river Rhine, part of the defence against the Germanic Teutons, which survived and grew into what we now know as Utrecht. The atmosphere of the city centre is created by the canals with their shady quay walls rising above the water. Down at water level the old wharves, which were used as long as 800 years ago for unloading ships, and cellars, which were used for storage purposes, have now been transformed into bars, restaurants and little shops. From early spring onwards you will find that enjoying an afternoon at one of the outdoor cafés evolves is all about seeing and being seen.

For those interested in culture there are music and movie festivals on a regular basis, in addition to the many concerts in the Vredenburg music centre. But we should not forget to mention the fascinating and different museums which can be found in the Museum Quarter. In short, you will not be bored in Utrecht for a single day!