Introduction
Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands. The location of the city is 42 km (26 miles) south and slightly east of Amsterdam. The old city has the 14th-century tower of St Martin’s Cathedral, the 113 m (370 ft) tall church is known for being the loftiest church tower in the country. There is the 15th century Catholic Cathedral, a house built in 1523 for the only the Utrechtian Dutch Pope, Adrian VI 1522-1523. The university was founded in 1636. The city houses the Netherlands prides, the National Museum of Christianity and the National Archives. It also is the center of the country’s rail network, and has a railway museum.

Utrecht is also the capital and largest town of the county’s smallest province, Utrecht. It covers 539 sq miles. Its main products are dairy goods, poultry, fruit and vegetables. It also has numerous beautiful country houses founded by rich Amsterdam merchants between 1650 and 1720. The major attraction of the city—the Hoog Catharijne—is the biggest shopping center in whole of Europe. It is so massive that it appears like an alien spaceship, which is trying to confront the visitors on their way from the railroad station, the bus station, or the parking lots. The city houses some of the superb museums, which were originally worn-out historic buildings. The city has been a focal point of the European religion, trade, statecraft and occasional revolution for the centuries. The country has a winsome population of 300,000 people.

What to do
Balele Hiking Trails
The Balele Hiking trails is a must try out. The offering is the irresistible two or three day hiking track along the Balele escarpments and also in the picturesque Enhlanzeni valley. The valley has a number of breathtaking waterfalls along its way. One can go for one night’s stay in the traditional Zulu huts.
Bookings: Manager Utrecht Country Club.
Tel. (034) 331-3963 Fax: (034) 331-4345

Balele Horse Tours and Trails
Utrecht has an amazing offering of a wide variety of tours and trails. The tours comprise of half an hour to one-hour tours. Whereas the trails consist of half a day to three or four day trails.
Bookings: Manager Utrecht Country Club.
Tel. (034) 331-3963 Fax: (034) 331-4345

Balele Recreation Resort
The Balele Recreation Resort offers angling and water sport on the dam. In addition, other sport facilities like the bowling greens, golf course, tennis courts, squash court and swimming pool are also available.
Reservations: Town Clerk
Tel. (034) 331-3041 Fax. (034) 331-4312

Waterloo Farm (Trout Fishing)
Waterloo Farm is sited at the pictorial and immaculate Balele Mountain Range. Fishing is being offered on three darns of 1/3, 1 and 2 ha. The darns have both the rainbow and brown Trout. The startling Bivane River with a perfect 6 ha. Dam is a place for the optional wild river fishing.
Reservations: Una and Neil Stannard.
Tel. (034) 331-4440

Balele Mountain Lodge
This scenic lodge is located at just about three hour’s drive from Johannesburg and Durban at an altitude of 6,500 ft. This place is famous for its wild trouts and also for its rich bird life. In addition, the place offers enticing trails for the adventurous. Other attractions include the horse riding and paragliding by the Balele escarpment.
Reservations: Margie and Coenie Dowling. Tel/Fax: (017) 7300-418

Sunset Riding Stables
For all those who just love horse riding, the Sunset Riding Stables is the place to look for if one wishes to hire horses and equipments. The Grooming and Fanier services are also available here. One can also get the horse riding lessons.

Entabeni Hiking Trails and Farm Holidays
It’s a base camp that has two four bed thatched huts. There are the three circular routes of 5km, 8km and 10 km about the huts. The farm offers holidays throughout the year. Animal lovers can enjoy an intimate contact with the farm animals during a farm stay. Two key features of the place are the horse riding and black bass angling. Reservations: Tel.(034) 331-3888, Cell. 082 851 654 9

City at a Glance

Area 539 sq miles Population 231,800 Language Dutch, English Religion Christianity

History
Utrecht derives its name from the Old Fort(s) or the Oude Trecht, which the Romans had built at many places along the Rhine river, in 9 A.D. Two thousand years ago, the Frisians tribe inhabited the coastal region to the north of the Rhine. This tribe was drawn into the Roman Empire for a few years. However in A.D. 16, the Roman soldiers were withdrawn and the remaining crew of officials were driven out twelve years later. The Romans tried to usurp the place again in A.D. 48 in an unsuccessful campaign. Roman soldiers left behind the place name—Trajectum ad Rhenum i.e. Fort over the Rhine.

The Voortrekkers established the city of Utrecht after they left Natal with the annexation by the British in 1845. In 1847, they moved in and occupied the land that they obtained from the Panda king of the Zulus, for tilling. The entire thing was done through a verbal agreement—the "Buffelsriviersche Maatschappij". This verbal agreement was transformed into a written agreement in 185. In November 6, 1859, the area was included into the Transvaal as the district of Utrecht. So, the Buffelsriviersche Maatschappij happens to be one of the five trekker settlements that existed before 1850, which ultimately united to form the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, (Transvaal). For close on forty years, this community occupied the border district of the Transvaal with Zululand and the unrest on the eastern frontier of the Cape Colony was re-enacted here in no uncertain way.

The history of Utrecht is in fact the history of the relations between the Transvaal and Zululand. It is also the main theme of the museum. The past of Utrecht is a saga of fortitude and bravery. The border issue was put to rest by the Anglo-Zulu war in which Utrecht played a prominent role.

Weather
Utrecht has a temperate maritime and cold winter.

SEASON TO VISIT
Utrecht can be visited throughout the year.

Attractions
The Old Parsonage
The Old Parsonage houses the Utrecht museum. Originally, it was the house of Rev. and Mrs. H.L. Neethling. They took the house on October 12, 1888.

The Dutch Reformed Church
The Dutch Reformed Church is a resplendent sandstone church. It was consecrated on April 2,1893 during the ministry of Rev. H.L. Teethling. Rev. Teethling was the first moderator of the "Nederduitsche Hervormde of Gereformeerde Kerk". The foundation stone of the church was laid by Gen. Piet Joubert, Commandant General of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek.

Commemorative Tablet: Capt. Leo Pokrowsky
The tablet is dedicated to the memory of Capt. Leo Pokrowsky, a Pole. He was one of the most famous foreigners, a Russian army officer, who fought with the Boer forces during the second Angle Beer War. He got killed on the Christmas Day 1900, during the attack which he and his men thrown on the British garrison in Utrecht.

Petrus Lafras Uys Monument
One of the first settlers in this area in 1847, Petrus Lafras Uys was also a member of the Transvaal Volksraad for Utrecht. During the Angle Zulu War of 1878-1879, he and his four sons fought with the British. He died in the battle of Hlobane in March 28, 1879. The commemorative monument was erected in 1881 by the burghers and soldiers of Col. Wood.

The Uys House
Uys House is one of the oldest buildings in Natal north of the Tugela River, dating back to 1856. Swart Dirk Uys, who was the first Commandant of Utrecht, lived in this house. The frontage is the work of Senator Jacobus Johannes Uys.

The Rothman House and the Shawe House
These houses are known to be one of the terrific examples of Natal colonial residential architecture in rural Natal. (National monuments)

The Old Cemetary
The old cemetery is worthy of a visit as it houses many graves of renowned Voortrekkers. Rev. H.L. Neethling, Rev. Arlington, (the first Vicar-General of the Anglican Church of Zululand) lie buried here. A section in the form of an arrow pointing in a northeasterly direction is laid out. British soldiers like, Stephen Thornton Phillimore Deputy Commissioner of the British army, were buried here during the Anglo Zulu War.

The Anglican Church
The magnificent church was built in 1899. It has a spellbinding interior.

IMPORTANT FESTIVALS
Utrecht’s yearly festival of audiovisual arts is known as Impakt and it takes place in May.

GETTING AROUND
Central Museum
Central Museum houses paintings by Utrecht artists from the 15th century to the present. A collection of Dutch art and sculpture, an exhibition on post-1850 architecture and a collection of artifacts, including a boat from the 1800’s, illustrate the history of the city of Utrecht.

Activities:
Historic, Exhibit, Museum, Art Museum, Place of Interest, Architecture

Central Museum
Agnietenstraat 1
3512 Xa Utrecht, NETHERLANDS
31 - 30-31 55 41

National Museum Van Speelklok tot Pierement
One can play with real (steam) trains and learn about the history of trains in the Netherlands, here.
Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. – 5 pm

Nationaal Museum Van Speelklok Tot Pierement - Museum
Buurkerkhof 10
3511 Kc Utrecht, NETHERLANDS
31 - 30-31 27 89

Museum "From Music Box to Street Organ"
An amazing museum with music boxes, barrel organs, dance organs, etc. from the 18th to the 20th century. Open: Tuesday–Saturday, 10 am–5 pm and Sunday 1 pm–5 pm

Museum "From Music Box to Street Organ"
Buurkerkhof 10
3511 Kc Utrecht, NETHERLANDS
31 - 30-31 27 89

SHOPPING
Hoog Catharijne is the shopper’s heaven from the 70’s, attached to Central Station It houses one of the largest indoor shopping centres in Europe.

VISITOR INFORMATION
Tourism Office
355 Lexington Ave., 19th Floor
New York City NY 10017
888-2-HOLLAND Travel Agnt, 888-GO-HOLLAND Consumer
Fax: 800-697-0580

Vvv Utrecht - Tourism Office
Vredenburg 90
3511 Bd Utrecht, NETHERLANDS
31 - 30-31 41 32

HOTELS
The well-known hotels are the Balele Recreation Resort, Betty’s Bed & Breakfast, Grand Hotel, Utrecht Gaststätte, Malachite Bed & Breakfast, Balele Mountain Lodge and the Waterloo Farm.

RESTAURANTS
The most famous of the restaurants are the La Grotta, Oude Gracht De Weerdzijde, Pamukkale, La Comedy, Dendermonde and De Halve Maan.

TRAVEL INFORMATION
Air Travel Resources
There is no airport in Utrecht. One has to use the Schiphol Airportand get the train, which is available every 30 minutes during the day. One has to change at Duivendrecht.

Land and Water
The Centraal Station is in the central place of the Netherlands. Trains for Utrecht are available to and from Amsterdam every 15 minutes during the day and evening until about 12, every hour at night.

Local Transport
There are city buses, which run every 10–15 minutes during the day and every 20 minutes until after midnight. The main hub is central station.