Centrally located, Utrecht is the smallest of the twelve provinces. The capital of the province, which bears the same name as the province, has a long and influential history.

Roman period
Utrecht is almost 2000 years old. It all began with a Roman fortification established in 47 AD as part of the reinforcements along the Rhine river against invasions from Germania. The Latin word for a river crossing was Trajectum or Ultra Trajectum, which was later mispronounced as Ultrajectum, Trecht and then Utrecht. Another explanation for the city's name is from a contraction of the words Uut (downstream) and Trecht (ford).

The Middle Ages
At the end of the 7th century, the English missionary Willibrord settled in Utrecht. He became the first Bishop of Utrecht and his statue can be seen at the St. Jans Square. He built a church on the site that now houses the Dom Square. This was the foundation for Utrecht’s role as a religious center in the still thinly populated areas north of the river Rhine.

In 1122, Utrecht was granted a city charter. The canals and wharves date from this golden period. For centuries, Utrecht was the biggest and only city of importance in the North of Holland.

Eighty Years War
Utrecht played a major role during the Eighty Years War against Spain. In 1579, the famed Union of Utrecht was formed in the large kapittelzaal (chapter house), which is now the university auditorium. In signing this document, the provinces of the Netherlands, which had rebelled against the rule of Philip II of Spain under the leadership of the brothers William of Orange and John of Nassau of the house of Orange-Nassau, were officially united. This was a beginning to the Northern Provinces' secession from Spanish rule, a few years later and the formation of the powerful Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, the first republic in post-medieval Europe.

An added impetus came in 1636 with the foundation of the university and again in 1713 with the Peace of Utrecht, which brought about the end of the War of Spanish Succession.

Utrecht prospered thanks to its favorable location in the heart of Holland. The city lies at the crossroads for transport, art, knowledge, service and commerce.