Editing Utrecht (section)

== Cityscape ==
[[File:Panorama Utrecht.jpg|thumb|Panorama of Utrecht from the west with Dom Tower and Buurkerk, 2008]]
[[File:Utrecht Canals - July 2006.jpg|thumb|[[Oudegracht]] (the 'Old Canal') in central Utrecht, 2006]]
[[File:Utrecht Oude Gracht Hamburgerbrug (LOC).jpg|thumb|The Oudegracht with Hamburgerbrug (bridge) with Dom Tower seen from the south, Utrecht, in the 1890s]]
[[File:Utrecht Canals Aerial View - July 2006.jpg|thumb|left|upright|View of the Oudegracht from the Dom Tower, 2006]]
[[File:DomtorenUitzichtIn2009.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Aerial view of Utrecht from the Dom Tower, 2009]]

Utrecht's cityscape is dominated by the [[Dom Tower of Utrecht|Dom Tower]], the tallest belfry in the Netherlands and originally part of the [[Cathedral of Saint Martin, Utrecht|Cathedral of Saint Martin]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.domtoren.nl/ |title=RonDom |publisher=Domtoren.nl |access-date=13 April 2011 |archive-date=30 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130030600/http://www.bouwdomtoren.nl/ |url-status=live }}</ref> An ongoing debate is over whether any building in or near the centre of town should surpass the Dom Tower in height ({{cvt|112|m|disp=sqbr}}). Nevertheless, some tall buildings are now being constructed that will become part of the skyline of Utrecht. The second-tallest building of the city, the [[Rabobank]]-tower, was completed in 2010 and stands {{cvt|105|m|0|abbr=off}} tall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rabobankgroep.nl/asp/default.asp?node_id=15062&version_id=1 |title=Rabobank Groep |publisher=Rabobankgroep.nl |access-date=13 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724163429/http://www.rabobankgroep.nl/asp/default.asp?node_id=15062&version_id=1 |archive-date=24 July 2011}}</ref> Two antennas will increase that height to {{cvt|120|m|0|abbr=off}}. Two other buildings were constructed around the [[Stadion Galgenwaard|Nieuw Galgenwaard]] stadium (2007). These buildings, the 'Kantoortoren Galghenwert' and 'Apollo Residence', stand {{cvt|85.5|m|1|abbr=off}} and {{cvt|64.5|m|1|abbr=off}} high, respectively.
The former Utrecht Main Post Office, built in 1924, is still in the city centre at Neude square, but is now serving as library, see also [[Utrecht Post Office]].

Another landmark is the old centre and the canal structure in the inner city. The [[Oudegracht]] is a curved canal, partly following the ancient main branch of the [[Rhine]]. It is lined with the unique wharf-basement structures that create a two-level street along the canals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.utrecht.nl/smartsite.dws?id=168424 |title=Cultuurhistorie en Monumenten |publisher=Utrecht.nl |date=4 December 1993 |access-date=13 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608230327/http://www.utrecht.nl/smartsite.dws?id=168424 |archive-date=8 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The inner city has largely retained its medieval structure,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.utrecht.nl/smartsite.dws?id=90241 |title=Wijksite Binnenstad |publisher=Utrecht.nl |date=30 March 2011 |access-date=13 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608232007/http://www.utrecht.nl/smartsite.dws?id=90241 |archive-date=8 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and the moat ringing the old town is largely intact.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.map21ltd.com/COSTC11/Utrecht/Utrecht.htm |publisher=Map21ltd.com |access-date=13 April 2011 |title=Utrecht |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030807220327/http://www.map21ltd.com/COSTC11/Utrecht/Utrecht.htm |archive-date=7 August 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In the 1970s part of the moat was converted into a motorway. It was then converted back into a waterway, the work being finished in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Joining the circle: Utrecht removes road to be ringed by water once more |url=https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/09/joining-the-circle-utrecht-removes-road-to-be-ringed-by-water-once-more/ |website=DutchNews.nl |date=11 September 2020 |access-date=23 September 2020 |archive-date=22 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922015651/https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/09/joining-the-circle-utrecht-removes-road-to-be-ringed-by-water-once-more/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Utrecht restores historic canal made into motorway in 1970s |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/14/utrecht-restores-historic-canal-made-into-motorway-in-1970s |website=The Guardian |date=14 September 2020 |access-date=23 September 2020 |archive-date=19 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919231659/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/14/utrecht-restores-historic-canal-made-into-motorway-in-1970s |url-status=live }}</ref>

Because of the role of Utrecht as a fortified city, construction outside the medieval centre and its city walls was restricted until the 19th century. Surrounding the medieval core there is a ring of late-19th- and early-20th-century neighbourhoods, with newer neighbourhoods positioned farther out.<ref>Historische Atlas van de stad Utrecht. {{ISBN|90-8506-189-X}}</ref> The eastern part of Utrecht remains fairly open. The [[Dutch Water Line]], moved east of the city in the early 19th century, required open lines of fire, thus prohibiting all permanent constructions until the middle of the 20th century on the east side of the city.<ref>{{cite book |publisher=Wandelplatform-LAW |title=Waterliniepad |language=nl |edition=1st |year=2004 |isbn=90-71068-61-7}}</ref>

Due to the past importance of Utrecht as a religious centre, several monumental churches were erected, many of which have survived.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kerkenkijken.nl/ |title=Kerken Kijken Utrecht &#124; Home |publisher=Kerkenkijken.nl |access-date=13 April 2011 |archive-date=24 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724113700/http://www.kerkenkijken.nl/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Most prominent is the [[Cathedral of Saint Martin, Utrecht|Dom Church]]. Other notable churches include the romanesque [[Pieterskerk, Utrecht|St Peter's]] and St John's churches; the gothic churches of St James and St Nicholas; and the Buurkerk, now converted into a [[Museum Speelklok|museum for automatically playing musical instruments]].