Utrecht

Smallest province of The Netherlands. Located in the center of the country. 1.1 Million inhabitants. 1,445 km² (560 square miles).

Important cities are it's capital Utrecht and Amersfoort?.

In the east of Utrecht lies the 'Utrechtse heuvelrug', a chain of hills left after the last ice age, 10,000 years ago. Because of the scarcity of minerals in the soil, the greatest part is planted with pine trees. The south of the province is a riverlandscape. The west consist mostly of meadows. In the north are big lakes because of the digging of peat.

[Site of the province]

---

Capital city of the province Utrecht. With 250.000 inhabitants the fourth city of The Netherlands.

Utrecht was founded by the Romans around 47 A.D. During the Middle Ages Utrecht, a bishopric? since 744, was the most important city of The Netherlands.

In 1572 the northern provinces of the [Low Countries]? signed the [Union of Utrecht]?. They decided to work together against the Spanish rule. The Union of Utrecht is seen as the start of The Netherlands.

Nowadays, Utrecht's main importance lies in the Dutch Railways and Utrecht University.

Important people from Utrecht:

• Pope Adrian VI
• Louis Andriessen (composer)
• [Marco van Basten]? (soccer player)
• [Dick Bruna]? (illustrator)
• [C.H.D. Buys Ballot]? (metereologist)
• [Gerrit van Honthorst]? (painter)
• Gerrit Rietveld (architect)

Museums in Utrecht:

• [Centraal Museum] (arts and history)
• [Museum Catharijneconvent] (history of christian culture)
• [National museum 'From musical clock to street organ'] (automatical musical instruments)

[Site of the city]