VIDEO: Utrecht in the Netherlands - the city, its style and culture

As part of her MA in Journalism Briona Gallagher discovers the delights of the City of Utrecht in Amsterdam while attending a documentary film festival hosted by University of Utrecht.   

Even though I am a proud Irish woman - if I believed in reincarnation - I’m sure I was Dutch in a past life.

Last weekend, I visited Holland as part of my MA in Journalism. Three students and two staff members from CIT were invited to attend a documentary film festival hosted by University of Utrecht.

Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands it’s like a smaller, prettier version of Amsterdam. For every person there is an average of four bicycles! So if you like to cycle, you’re going to love this place.

Video Briona Gallagher

When we arrived, the temperature was in the high 20’s and I got to see the city at its best. And its best is beautiful. The bright sun bounced off the cobbled and bustling streets that open onto large plazas where everyone gathers to eat and drink.

The people are unbelievably friendly and helpful – and I don’t say that lightly – but they are also very stylish, as a nation they seem to nail that casual “off-duty chic.”

One of my travelling companions said being in Utrecht was like experiencing ancient Europe, and this really resonated with me. But even though things like the buildings and infrastructure are elegant and refined there is also a progressive and modern energy to the city. The shops house high end labels and designers, the art is edgy and experimental and I saw a handful of 3D printing centres so technologically speaking this old world city is bang up to date.