Busiest train station in the Netherlands (Utrecht Centraal)

Utrecht Centraal is the largest and busiest railway station in the Netherlands, and it is a destination in its own right as well as a gateway to the city. It lies in the centre of the country, and because of that position, many of the main train lines meet here. Passengers changing between Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Arnhem and the north or south pass through in huge numbers every day, and the concourse hums with commuters, students and travellers.

The station has a long history. The first railway reached Utrecht in the nineteenth century, and the city became a junction early. The present complex was built in the 1960s and 1970s, together with the large shopping centre Hoog Catharijne that connects directly to the station, and in recent years it has been rebuilt on a grand scale. A new station hall with a sweeping wave-shaped roof was opened in 2016, and the surrounding area was redesigned, including the reopening of a stretch of the old canal that had been filled in during the 1970s.

The station is also famous for bicycles. Dutch commuters ride to the station and leave their bikes in huge parking facilities, and Utrecht has one of the largest bicycle parking garages in the world, with space for many thousands of bikes. Walking through the garage gives a vivid sense of the Netherlands' cycling culture, and cyclists can use a monitored system to find a free space. Rental bikes are available for visitors.

From the station, the city's main sights are within easy reach. The old centre, with the canals and wharf cellars, the Dom Tower, the Dom Church and Museum Catharijneconvent, is a short walk through the shopping centre or along the canal. The Centraal Museum, the Speelklok music museum and the square dedicated to Nijntje, known in English as Miffy, who was created by the Utrecht artist Dick Bruna, are nearby. Kasteel de Haar, a fairy-tale castle, can be reached by bus or bike.

The station suits travellers using the rail network, but also visitors who are interested in architecture and urban transformation. Allow time for the connection between trains, and be aware that peak hours can be extremely busy. Information desks and ticket machines are plentiful, and there are cafes and shops for a pause.