Settling in Utrecht? This central university city is compact, bike-friendly, and well-connected to the rest of the country.
Make an appointment with the Municipality of Utrecht (Gemeente Utrecht). The city has an expat service desk to help with registration.
Read the full guide →Register with a GP near your home as soon as you have your BSN. Utrecht practices can be full due to the large student population.
Read the full guide →Utrecht is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the Netherlands. The city centre is largely car-free. An OV-chipkaart covers trains, buses, and trams.
Read the full guide →Utrecht has a severe housing shortage. Start your search early and be prepared for competitive viewing. The university housing office can help if you are a student or researcher.
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Renowned Dutch actor Daan Schuurmans is lending his voice to a major immersive light show hosted in Utrecht. The production, titled Luminiscence, transforms the historic Jacobi Church into a multisensory stage for local history.
The Dutch film industry celebrated its biggest night in Utrecht as Truly Naked swept the top awards. The 46th Gouden Kalveren Gala also honored sports drama Basta and veteran filmmaker Halina Reijn.
The Dutch film 'Truly Naked' has emerged as the dominant force at the prestigious Gouden Kalveren awards, securing a remarkable six out of its seven nominations. The wins, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay, were announced at the closing ceremony of the Netherlands Film Festival in Utrecht.
The Dutch government is set to release a landmark report detailing the historical role of the House of Orange in the nation's colonial past. Meanwhile, the Dutch film industry gathers in Utrecht tonight to celebrate the best of local cinema at the annual Golden Calf awards.
The Netherlands Film Festival returns to Utrecht with a powerful opening feature highlighting the 1980s gay scene. The film serves as a timely call to action amid rising concerns over declining acceptance of queer identity among today's youth.
Commuters facing travel disruption around Utrecht today due to a shortage of railway traffic controllers at ProRail. The shortage is partly attributed to a staff farewell event, coinciding with holiday leave and sickness.
A Dutch court has sentenced rapper and activist Appa to 40 hours of community service for doxing a journalist and a private individual. This ruling marks a significant enforcement of the new anti-doxing legislation in the Netherlands.
Police in Utrecht caught 106 motorists holding mobile phones while driving during a massive traffic enforcement operation yesterday. Authorities are intensifying efforts to curb distracted driving as fines for the offense continue to rise.
Police in Utrecht have seized 50 heavy-duty illegal explosive devices discovered in a residential storage locker. A 55-year-old local resident has been arrested as investigations into potential criminal activity continue.
The public prosecutor has demanded a conditional hospital order for a 68-year-old Utrecht man accused of assaulting multiple victims, including children. The court proceedings highlight the gravity of the crimes and the ongoing efforts to protect public safety in the region.
Utrecht is considering a tougher approach to bad landlords after local authorities issued only a single fine last year despite nearly 200 complaints. The city is currently studying Rotterdam's successful enforcement model to better protect vulnerable tenants.
Dutch judges have again ruled that asylum seekers cannot be sent back to Italy due to inadequate living standards. The court maintains that Italy remains unable to guarantee basic human rights for those returned.