Sights in Utrecht City
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Oudegracht
Scene of many a wedding photo, the photogenic bend in the Oudegracht is illuminated by lamplight in the evening; hundreds sit outside cafés here by day. South of this point is where the canal is at its most evocative, and the streets are quieter, stretching 1km to the southern tip of the old town.
A section of the Singel called the Stadsbuitengracht has its own turn as a lovely canal on the eastern side of the old quarter, where it follows many parks built on the site of the old fortifications. Stroll down beside this canal and back north through Nieuwegracht, a peaceful stretch of plush canal houses and towering, grand old elms.
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Rietveld-Schröderhuis
The Rietveld-Schröderhuis is a Unesco-protected landmark built in 1924 by Utrecht architect Gerrit Rietveld. Inside and out, the entire structure conforms to the principles of De Stijl architecture – as form really does follow function here. Only six colours are used: red, blue, yellow, white, grey and black. Visits must be booked in advance through the website, by phone or through the Centraal Museum. Visits here are included in the museum admission, but the guided tour (adult/child €16/11, which includes a shuttle from Centraal Museum) is best.
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Dick Bruna Huis
One of Utrecht’s favourite sons, Dick Bruna, is honoured at Dick Bruna Huis. Bruna is the creator of beloved cartoon rabbit Miffy, and she naturally takes pride of place, along with an extensive overview of Bruna’s career: from the book covers he designed for his family’s publishing company to multimedia demonstrations of his technique and philosophy. Kids love this place, as do adults who find their inner kid again.
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Centraal Museum
The Centraal Museum has a wide-ranging collection. It displays applied arts dating back to the 17th century, as well as paintings by some of the Utrecht School artists and a bit of De Stijl to boot – including the world’s most extensive Gerrit Rietveld collection, a wet dream for all minimalists. There’s even a 12th-century Viking longboat that was dug out of the local mud, plus a sumptuous 17th-century dollhouse.
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Domkerk
Finished in the 14th century, the cathedral and its tower (Domtoren) are the most striking medieval landmarks in a city that once had 40 cathedrals. In 1674 the North Sea winds reached hurricane force and blew down the cathedral's nave, leaving the tower and transept behind. There is a row of paving stones that mark the extents of the nave - across this extent is the Domkerk, the surviving chancel of the cathedral, with a few tombs within.
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Museum Catharijneconvent
The Museum Catharijneconvent, has the finest collection of medieval religious art in the Netherlands – virtually the history of Christianity, in fact – is housed in a Gothic former convent and a 18th-century canal-side house. Marvel at the many beautiful illuminated manuscripts, carvings and robes and then contemplate it all in the old cloisters.
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Domtoren
The Domtoren is 112m high, with 465 steps and 50 bells. It’s a tough haul to the top but well worth the exertion, given that the tower gives unbeatable city views; on a clear day you can see Amsterdam. The guided tour, in Dutch and English, is detailed and gives privileged insight into this beautiful structure.
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Pieterskerk
Walk down Voetiusstraat from behind the cathedral to Pieterskerk, built in 1048 and the oldest Romanesque church in the Netherlands. Much damage was caused during the storm in 1674 and again during a dodgy 1965 restoration. Opening hours are sporadic but try visiting on Friday or Saturday.
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Universiteitsmuseum
The Universiteitsmuseum is a mixed bag – and that’s the ‘toof’! There’s a re-created late-19th- century classroom, historic dentistry tools (‘Is it safe?’) and way too many models of medical maladies.
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Utrecht University Ceremonial Buildings
The 19th-century buildings on the western side of Domplein are the ceremonial buildings of Utrecht University, surrounding the old church chapterhouse where the treaty of Utrecht was signed in 1579. The Treaty formed a military alliance of the northern provinces.
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Nederlands Waterleidingmuseum
Spread throughout the various levels of a soaring brick water tower built in 1896, the Nederlands Waterleidingmuseum takes a good, hard look at what happens to water before and after humans use it.
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Nationaal Museum van Speelklok tot Pierement
It has a colourful collection of musical machines from the 18th century onwards. Hourly tours demonstrate these with gusto. The newly opened restoration workshop lets you see how these mechanical marvels work.
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Aboriginal Art Museum
A bit of a surprise in Utrecht, the Aboriginal Art Museum, devoted to contemporary Australian Aboriginal art, is sure to delight those bored with Rembrandt and Van Gogh.
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Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum
The Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum features historic trains and thematic displays in an old station building; a high-speed mini-train takes kids around the grounds.
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