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| General Information
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A charming and cosmopolitan city, Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands and the capital of the province of Utrecht. It is a very old city, officially founded around 50 AD when a Roman fortification was built there, and inhabited as far back as the Bronze Age. The centre of Utrecht is full of old buildings, and has noteworthy architecture from the medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and later periods. Like Amsterdam, the city has many cobblestone streets and old canals running through it, giving it a quaint and unique character. Utrecht’s canals are distinctive from others in Holland, however, as many are located well below street level, and on the main Oude Gracht there are many stairs going down to waterside terraces.
Utrecht is also a university town and has long been one of the main cultural, economic and political centres of the Netherlands. It is also a popular tourist destination, as not only the historic city centre, the picturesque canals, and the many events draw visitors, but also the beautiful and peaceful surrounding countryside.
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| Weather
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Holland has a mild and wet climate. Summer temperatures rarely get really hot, and on average stay between 17 - 26ªC (63 - 79ªF). Temperatures also rarely drop below freezing in the winter, and generally stay between 2 - 13ªC (35.5 - 55ª F). It still manages to feel quite cold, however, partly due to it being frequently damp and windy. Rain is common and should be expected at any time of year. The best stretches of weather often occur in the fall, when there tends to be more sun, and the days are often warm with a crisp breeze.
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| Language
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The language spoken in Utrecht is Dutch. The vast majority of people in Holland can speak English, however, and in the major cities and touristy places they are generally quite fluent.
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| Religion
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The Netherlands is known as a country where religion is not very popular, and it has the highest percentage of athiests of any country. Only about 39% of the population defines themselves as religious. Catholics make up the largest religious group, followed by Protestants, and there is now also a sizeable Muslim population. There are also small numbers of Jews, Hindus, and Buddhists, making up collectively less than 3% of the population.
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| Currency
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The currency which is used in the Netherlands is the Euro. Notes come in denominations of €100, €50, €20, €10 and €5 and the coins in use are €2, €1, € 0.50, € 0.20, € 0.10, € 0.05.
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| Tipping
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Service charges are almost always included in restaurant bills and taxi fares, but additional tipping is customary. For small bills in restaurants, it is normal to just round up the bill, or add a euro or two if the service was excellent. For larger bills, you can tip between 5-10%, but should not feel obligated to tip if the service was not satisfactory. In general, the Dutch are stingy about tipping, and just give whatever they feel like, not worrying about the percentage. When taking taxis, however, a tip of around 10% is customary. Hotel room service will also expect a small tip, as well as porters and restroom attendants.
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| Taxes
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Sales tax in The Netherlands is 19%, and is included in the shop prices. This tax can be refunded to tourists from outside of the EU whenever €50 or more is spent in the same shop on the same day. This only works in shops participating in Global Refund Tax Free Shopping, most of which display a sign in the window. Along with your receipt, the shop will present you with a form to fill out, to give to officials at the airport. All you have to do to get your refund is go to the Global Cash Refund Office before check in (in departure hall 3). Note that whatever you buy has to leave The Netherlands within three months for you to get a refund.
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| Telephone
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There are public telephones all over Utrecht, which can be found on the street, in train stations, post offices, and some other establishments. Some of them take cash, but most take only phone cards or credit cards. You can buy phone cards in values of € 5, 10, or 20 at tobacco shops, telecom shops, newsstands, and post offices.
The country code of The Netherlands is +31 and the area code for Utrecht is 030. To dial a number in Utrecht from abroad, dial 00 31 30 followed by the local number.
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| Internet
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There are many internet cafés throughout Utrecht, easy recognizable on the commercial streets in the centre of the city. Most of them also feature long distance phone calls, photocopying, fax, printing, and other services. Many regular cafés also offer free wifi.
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| Emergency Numbers
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All-purpose emergency number (ambulance, fire and police): 112
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| Opening Times
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In general, shops are open Mon - Fri 10 am - 6 pm and Sat 10 am - 4 pm. Some shops open at 9 am, and supermarkets and other big stores often stay open until 8 or 9 pm. It is also common for stores to open later on Monday, either at 11 am or 1 pm. On Thursday night many shops stay open late, until 8 or 9 pm. Most stores are closed on Sunday, but night shops or “avondwinkels” stay open. These shops are also open nightly until about 1 or 2 am.
Banks are open Mon - Fri from 9 am - 4 or 5 pm. Post offices also open at 9 am and close at 5 or 6 pm.
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| Public Holidays
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On the following days, most shops, banks and museums will be closed, and public transport is likely to be more limited.
1 January, New Year’s Day
Good Friday
Easter Sunday and Monday
30 April, Queen’s Day
5 May, Liberation Day
Ascension Day
Whit Sunday and Monday
25 and 26 December, Christmas
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| Safety
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Utrecht is generally a very safe place to visit, and violent crime rates are quite low. You don’t need to worry about being mugged or attacked if you follow basic common-sense safety precautions. As in most cities, pickpocketing is the most common crime against tourists in Utrecht, but you can reduce the risk of it happening to you by carrying your valuables in a secure place and not leaving any bags or coats unattended.
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