Utrecht << YOO trehkt >> (pop. 328,164) is a Dutch city that lies along the Rhine River, about 22 miles (35 kilometers) southeast of Amsterdam. Utrecht has many medieval churches and the tallest church tower in the Netherlands. The tower, called the Domtoren, is 367 feet (112 meters) high. The University of Utrecht is one of the country’s largest universities, and the Muziekcentrum Vredenburg is one of its most famous concert halls. The city is the center of the Dutch railroad network. Its industries include metalworking, heavy construction, and food processing.
Much Dutch history centers about Utrecht. In 1579, the seven northern Protestant provinces united in this city. The nation of the Netherlands grew out of this union. A treaty that helped end the War of the Spanish Succession was signed at Utrecht in 1713.
