Do you find Amsterdam too crowded? Want to live in something a bit less touristic and a bit more original? A city with the same international feel, the same iconic canals and (almost) the same nightlife? Take a look at housing in Utrecht. This city lies in the heart of the country, only 40 kilometres from Amsterdam. It is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, built by the Romans as the border of their empire in 50 AD. You can still see this border on the square next to the famous Domtower. A 13th century church tower of 112 meters high.
Utrecht has been recently discovered by expats as a pleasant city to live. It has all the benefits of Amsterdam, but has a different kind of ‘feel’. Where Amsterdam aspires to be a global village, Utrecht prefers to remain a city that feels like a local village. It is more quiet, more intimate. One of Utrecht’s secrets to achieve this is to create lively cultural centers all over the city, not just in the center. It doesn’t matter where you live, there is always a place to meet nearby. Think of Rotsoord, Werkspoor and the Uithof.
This city has a big university and was long known as just a student Valhalla. Those days are gone. The students of old remained and the city has now something to offer for everyone. Though Utrecht University and Hogeschool Utrecht still remain important progressive motors of change and vibrant life.
Why would you want housing in Utrecht?
Utrecht has a lot to offer in culture (Dutch Film Festival, Nijntje museum, conservatory, Tivoli and University of Arts), has the best public transport network accessibility in the country and is considered the safest and most quiet out of the four big cities that form the ‘Randstad’. A perfect city for children to grow up. Moving to Utrecht is a choice for the future. Being near the highways to Amsterdam (A2) and Rotterdam and The Hague (A12) means that you can switch jobs without having to move. Last but not least, the city center has a high volume of beautiful (and still active) old churches with many different active religious movements.
Popular neighborhoods & towns
- Popular neighborhoods: Wittevrouwen, Buiten-Wittevrouwen, Wilhelminapark, Rijnsweerd, Oog in Al, Tuindorp, Lunetten, Vogelenbuurt
- Upcoming neighborhoods: Lombok, Zuilen, parts of Overvecht, Rotsoord, Hoograven, Dichterswijk
- Affordable neighborhoods: Kanaleneiland, parts of Overvecht, Transwijk, Zuilen
- Popular nearby towns: Bilthoven, Zeist, Houten, Soest, Bunnik
- Other nearby towns: De Bilt, Maarssen, Nieuwegein, Ijsselstein, Driebergen, Groenekan
If you decide you want to move to Utrecht, please feel free to contact us to help you on your quest. The housing market in Utrecht is a challenging one, but thanks to our vast network we manage to find houses before they are published to channels such as Funda.nl. Use our services to get a head start in finding your dream property in Utrecht. We have helped hundreds of expats immigrating and purchasing a house and we are happy to help you as well!