Utrecht

"Studying abroad is an experience that no summer clerkship could even begin to offer. It was worth the time, and the money... I will always look back on that summer with incredibly fond memories... you will never feel closer to other students or professors than you do while abroad together. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and to take advantage of it is one of the most important things you will ever do."
Tracey Russell
1999 Attendee

Washburn Law's Summer Study Abroad Program is located at the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands. Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands, with a population of more than 250,000 people. It is located only 20 miles southeast of Amsterdam and it is easily accessible by rail from Amsterdam and its airport, Schiphol.

Photograph: Dom Tower. Courtesy: Andrea Bruns, 2005 program attendee. Utrecht has a rich history, dating back to its founding as a Roman settlement in 47 A.D. Today it remains a unique place, with a comparatively small, historic city center (280 K PDF; print for best view) (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader), where one can find numerous ethnic restaurants situated on the water's edge of its main canal, the Oudegracht. Besides the Oudegracht, Utrecht is known for its Dom tower, an ornate church clock tower located in the old city center. Utrecht also has a reputation as the "festival city" of the Netherlands, hosting film, dance, blues, jazz, early music and theater festivals.

The University of Utrecht is a large, urban university of over 24,000 students; its internationally recognized law school has over 500 staff members and 4,000 students. The University adds many attractions to the city, including its museums and numerous educational and cultural events. Because of the University's presence, the composition of Utrecht's population is rather young and it has the highest educated labor force in the Netherlands.

Utrecht's major rail station is centrally located and cities such as Cologne, Germany; Brussels, Belgium; Paris, France; and London, England can be reached by train within a few hours.

See the Links and Other Resources page for links to Utrecht, the Netherlands, and recommended books.

Photograph: Post Office Square (Neude) Post Office Square (Neude)