Utrecht

Description

Located in beautiful Netherlands is the ancient city of Utrecht. Utrecht is The Netherlands’ fourth largest city and is the beating heart of Holland. It was founded as a Roman fortress almost 2000 years ago and is home to a number of structures from the Early Middle Ages. It is also known as the religious heart of The Netherlands and is widely known for its universities, picturesque canals, magnificent castles, medieval churches and numerous other monuments. This ancient city is perfect for those looking for some adventure. Utrecht is located only about 45 minutes away from Amsterdam, by car; making it a must-visit when in The Netherlands. Muslim tourists must be aware that they will be able to find Muslim-friendly facilities in Utrecht. There are quite a few mosques and Halal restaurants in Utrecht; therefore making it a great destination for a fun family getaway. 

This lively town offers so much to do and see, and luckily enough, it can be easily explored on foot. As the city is built around the Dom tower, visitors to Utrecht will be able to see the impressive tower from anywhere in the city. This gothic style tower is said to be the tallest church tower in the Netherlands.

The stunning Old Town of Utrecht must be on every visitor’s itinerary. Here, tourists will come across beautiful canals, a wide selection of shops; including ones selling antiques, churches and other interesting buildings. For those interested in architecture, a visit to the iconic Rietveld Schröder House is a must. Built in 1924, this UNESCO named World Heritage Site is a masterpiece by Gerrit Rietveld that is world renowned.

Utrecht is also home to the famous Centraal Museum, which was founded in 1838 and is the oldest municipal museum in The Netherlands. Here, visitors will find a collection of art displays that date back to the 17^th century. Also found here is the world's most extensive Gerrit Rietveld collection and the thousand year old 'Utrecht Ship'.

For those who like to shop, Utrecht is the ideal place to be. The city offers some incredible shopping. There are plenty of shops that line the canals and streets of Utrecht. There are also loads of markets, like the Bloemenmarkt, the Vredenburg market and the Lapjesmarkt that are meant to be explored.

Dick Bruna Huis, Museum Speelklok, Wilhelminapark, Kasteel De Haar, the Botanical Garden and the Railway Museum are just a few other places that tourists must pay a visit.

Nearby Airports

The closest airport to Utrecht is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, which is the main international airport of The Netherlands. This airport has international flights and is about 53 kilometres from the center of Utrecht. Tourists can also use the services offered at Rotterdam The Hague Airport, which is located approximately 63 kilometres from Utrecht.

Halal Restaurants

There are a couple of Halal restaurants in Utrecht. Basköse, King of Kebab II, Tok Tok Chicken, Restaurant Orkide and Restaurant Saffraan are said to be a few restaurants that serve Halal food in Utrecht. It is however always best for Muslims to verify the Halal status of the food served before dining. Muslim tourists must also be aware the some of these restaurants do serve alcohol. 

Mosques

Muslim visitors will be able to find plenty of mosques in Utrecht to offer their prayers at. Anware Qoeba Mosque, Essalaam Moskee, Masjid Sayidina Ibrahim, Abi Bakr Assadik Mosque, Omar Al Farouk Moskee and Masjid El Fath are just a few of the several masjids in Utrecht.

Things to Do and See in Utrecht

• Centraal Museum
•  Kasteel de Haar
•  Old Town
•  Railway Museum
•  The Botanical Gardens
•  Lapjesmarkt
•   Vredenburg market
•  Dick Bruna Huis
•  Stadskasteel Oudaen
•  Wilhelminapark
•  Rietveld Schröder House
•  Trajectum Lumen
•  Bloemenmarkt