Ships from Germany, England and Flanders sailed directly here to trade. At its peak, Utrecht was one of the most important trading cities in Northern Europe, competing with Amsterdam before Amsterdam took the lead during the Dutch Golden Age.

The Dom Tower. Standing at 112 meters tall, it has been the tallest church tower in the Netherlands for more than 600 years, watching over the city since 1382. Its construction took more than 60 years.

Parts of Utrecht’s old city wall still survive today and date back to the Middle Ages, when the city was protected by walls, gates, towers, and a defensive moat. The fortifications were built from the 12th century onward to defend the rapidly growing trading city from attacks and rival armies. Although much of the wall was demolished in later centuries as Utrecht expanded, several sections and towers can still be seen today, offering a glimpse into the city’s medieval past.

Castle Vredenburg was completed around 1534. It was an advanced Renaissance fortress; a five-pointed star shape with enormous bastions, built exactly on the site of the city’s old castle. Its strategic position was no coincidence.