Top Historic Sights in Utrecht, Netherlands
Explore the historic highlights of Utrecht
St. Martin's Cathedral
St. Martin's Cathedral or Dom Church was the cathedral of the bishopric of Utrecht during the Middle Ages. The first chapel dedicated to Saint Martin in Utrecht was founded around 630 by Frankish clergy under the patronage of the Merovingian kings but was destroyed during an attack of the Frisians on Utrecht shortly thereafter. The site of this first chapel within Utrecht is unknown. Saint Willibrord (died 739), the Apost ...
Founded: 1023/1254 |
Location:
Utrecht, Netherlands
Buurkerk
The Buurkerk is a former medieval parish church. It is documented as being burned in in 1131, 1173, 1253 and 1279. The tower dates from 1370, but was never finished. In 1577 a cannon was installed in the church tower, aimed at Vredenburg (castle) where the Spanish soldiers there were under siege by the Utrecht schutters. Around 1580 the church endured the protestant reformation and in 1586 it was formally handed over to t ...
Founded: 1279 |
Location:
Utrecht, Netherlands
St. Peter's Church
The Pieterskerk (St. Peter"s Church) is one of the oldest in Utrecht. Its construction began in 1039 and it was inaugurated on 1 May 1048 by Bernold, Bishop of Utrecht (although the lost west towers were probably only finished about a century after the inauguration). Characteristic of the Romanesque style in which it is built are the church"s large nave pillars, each hewn from one piece of red sandstone, and the ...
Founded: 1039-1048 |
Location:
Utrecht, Netherlands
St. Nicholas' Church
The St Nicholas' Church is a medieval parish church from the 12th century that was reconstructed in the 15th century into a gothic church. An unusual feature is the 14th century cupola painting in the crossing with its ornamental and geometric shapes.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Utrecht, Netherlands
St. John's Church
Saint John’s Church is a Romanesque basilica was founded shortly after 1040 by Bishop Bernold and dedicated to John the Baptist. It was in the Middle Ages one of five collegiate churches of the city. Saint John’s Church was originally largely identical to the St Peter’s Church and the defunct church of Paul Abbey.
Founded: c. 1040 |
Location:
Utrecht, Netherlands
Fort Hoofddijk
Fort Hoofddijk was built in 1879 as one of the fortifications around Utrecht that formed part of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie, or "New Dutch waterline". This defense line made use of inundating parts of Holland to stop the advance of the enemy, but because Utrecht was on relatively high ground, it needed an additional ring of fortifications. Today the Botanical Gardens of Utrecht University are located at th ...
Founded: 1879 |
Location:
Utrecht, Netherlands
St. James' Church
The Jacobikerk is named after its patron saint St. James the Greater. The church is one of the medieval parish churches of Utrecht, along with the Buurkerk, the Nicolaïkerk and the Geertekerk. Today it is known as the starting place for Dutch pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostella along the Way of St. James. The current gothic church dates from the end of the 13th century, but was expanded in the 14th and 15th ...
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Utrecht, Netherlands
St. Gertrude's Church
St. Gertrude's Church is he smallest and newest medieval parish church dedicated to the saint Gertrudis van Nijvel. It was built between 1248-1259. The choir and transept were added a century later and the tower around 1400.
Founded: 1248-1259 |
Location:
Utrecht, Netherlands
Fort Vechten
Fort Vechten was constructed between 1867 and 1870 as part of the so-called Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie (The "New Dutch Water Line") to defend the cities of the western Netherlands from overland attack. The history of Vechten dates however back to the Roman times. The Romans, who apparently chose the spot because it controlled a side-arm of the Lower Rhine, built their castellum by the year 4 AD, and possibly n ...
Founded: 1867-1870 |
Location:
Utrecht, Netherlands
Rietveld Schröder House
The Rietveld Schröder House was built in 1924 by Dutch architect Gerrit Rietveld for Mrs. Truus Schröder-Schräder and her three children. It constitutes both inside and outside a radical break with all architecture before it. The house is one of the best known examples of De Stijl-architecture and arguably the only true De Stijl building. Mrs. Schröder lived in the house until her death in 1985. The ho ...
Founded: 1924 |
Location:
Utrecht, Netherlands
Fort Rhijnauwen
Fort Rhijnauwen was built between 1868 and 1875 as part of the New Dutch Water Defence Line. Because of its architectural style and good state of preservation, the fort is historically unique. Due it was closed to the general public for years it became a paradise for many endangered plants and animals. There are also weasels, foxes, roe, grass snakes and many varieties of butterflies. In winter, hundreds of bats hibernate ...
Founded: 1868-1875 |
Location:
Utrecht, Netherlands
Fort Ruigenhoek
Fort Ruigenhoek was built between 1869-1870 as part of the so-called Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie(The 'New Dutch Water Line') to defend the cities of the western Netherlands from overland attack.
Founded: 1869-1870 |
Location:
Utrecht, Netherlands
Fort Voordorp
Fort Voordorp was built between 1867-1871 as a part of the Netherlands water defence line. Today it is used for events and conferences.
Founded: 1867-1871 |
Location:
Utrecht, Netherlands
Fort Lunet
The four crescent shaped forts of Lunetten have been build between 1822 and 1828 as part of the Dutch Water Line. Forts and fortified towns have been constructed to protect weaknesses in the waterline. Combined with natural bodies of water, it could be used to transform the economic heartland of the Dutch Republic almost into an island.
Founded: 1822-1828 |
Location:
Utrecht, Netherlands