Utrecht (province) (original) (raw)

Utrecht is the smallest province of the Netherlands, and is located in the center of the country. It is bordered by the IJsselmeer in the north, Gelderland in the east, the river Rhine in the south, South Holland in the west, and North Holland in the northeast.

Important cities in the province are its capital Utrecht and Amersfoort.

Utrecht Province of the Netherlands

Capital Utrecht
Queen's Commissioner Boele Staal
Area - Total - % water 12th1449 km� 4.3%
Population - Total (2002) - Density 5th1.15 million821/km�

History

In the Middle Ages, most of the area of the current province was ruled by the bishop of Utrecht. The bishopric was founded in 722 by Willibrord. Many wars were fought between Utrecht and the neighbouring counties and duchies, Holland, Gelderland and Brabant.

In 1527, the bishop of Utrecht sold his worldly power over his territories to Emperor Charles V, who already owned the other Dutch provinces. However, the Habsburg rule did not last long, as Utrecht joined the revolt of the United Provinces against Charles' son Philip II of Spain in 1579.

Geography

In the east of Utrecht lies the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, a chain of hills left after the last ice age, 10,000 years ago. Because of the scarcity of minerals in the soil, the greatest part is planted with pine trees. The south of the province is a river landscape. The west consists mostly of meadows. In the north are big lakes formed by the digging of peat.

Municipalities

Drenthe | Flevoland | Friesland | Gelderland | Groningen | Limburg | North Brabant | North Holland | Overijssel | South Holland | Utrecht | Zeeland