Campus highlights
A small showcase of some Utrecht University's campus highlights.
University Hall (Academiegebouw)
The University Hall, located in the central Dom Square, is the ceremonial heart and public face of Utrecht University. It’s a place of debate, lectures and conferences. The building exudes history. Dating from 1462, the auditorium is the oldest part of the building. This is where the Union of Utrecht was signed in 1579, regarded as laying the foundations for the Dutch Republic. Nowadays, it’s used for academic ceremonies such as PhD ceremonies, inaugural lectures and the awarding of undergraduate and graduate diplomas. Annually, the University Hall attracts some 100,000 to 200,000 visitors.
Opening hours
Weekdays: 8 am - 10 pm, closed on weekends.
University Library City Centre
The University Library City Centre is located in the former palace of Louis Bonaparte, built in 1807. The whole complex contains six buildings with listed status. Over recent years, it has undergone a total redesign. The materials, details and colour scheme draw the buildings together to create a unified whole. The building is light and transparent and encourages interaction. Keywords: accessible, transparent, inviting, representative and restful. Read more about the redesign on Archdaily.
Opening hours
Weekdays: 8 am - 10.30 pm, weekends: 10 am - 10.30 pm.
University Library USP/De Uithof
The University Library USP sets an architectural milestone in USP/De Uithof. Unique to this property is that the appearance reveals almost nothing of the interior. The major part of the outer wall is made up of glass panels which reflect the environment. Seen from the outside, the building is solid. Inside you'll see it’s actually two buildings, separated by a large atrium. The interior has a clean finish. The floors have different cutouts, which create a variety of open spaces and various floorplans. The dominant colour used is black, with the support of the light grey floors and red accents.
Opening hours
Weekdays: 8 am - 10.30 pm, weekends: 10 am - 10.30 pm.
Utrecht Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Gardens date back to 1639. On and around Fort Hoofddijk there are six gardens with distinctive characters, covering nine hectares. One of Europe's largest rock gardens in terms of its wealth of different species and surface area. The Evolution Garden for teaching, with a central role for magnolias and water lilies. The Discovery Garden (theme garden) appeals to all of the senses: plants to smell, see, feel, taste and even hear. A Wildlife Garden providing for all kinds of insects and small animals. The Tropical Greenhouses with a collection of orchids and bromeliads and other plants from the northern part of the neotropics. And the Outer Fort: an almost wild terrain, enabling local indigenous plants to grow.
Opening hours
(March to December): weekdays and weekends: 10 am - 4.30 pm.
International Campus Utrecht (ICU)
The International Campus Utrecht (ICU) is located on the historic site of the former Kromhout military barracks. It has all the elements of the ideal campus: an enclosed area with beautiful buildings and plenty of green space and walking trails. Some of the buildings are National Monuments, such as the military guardhouses. On the campus accommodation, education and culture can be effortlessly combined. Among others, the campus hosts University College Utrecht and the Utrecht University School of Economics.