Academiegebouw (University Hall), Utrecht

Academiegebouw (University Hall), Utrecht

The University Hall (Academiegebouw) stands as the ceremonial heart of Utrecht University, an institution renowned for its deep academic traditions. Located near the Dom Church, this grand Neo-Renaissance structure was built to commemorate the university’s 250th anniversary in 1886. However, its construction was marred by architectural disputes and delays, only beginning in 1891 after the death of one of its architects, Cornelis Vermeijs.

The Neo-Renaissance design, chosen over a neo-Gothic style that would have mirrored the Dom Church, reflects the humanist ideals of the university, evoking classical traditions of learning. The façade features decorative medallions and a bust of Queen Wilhelmina, while the interior is adorned with ornate frescoes and tapestries, the latter donated by the Utrecht University Fund in 1936.

One of the more intriguing spaces within the building is the Masquerade Hall (formerly Room 16). Originally featuring a fresco titled The Return of Christ (1999), it was redesigned in 2002 to reflect the university’s tradition of student masquerades during lustrum celebrations, covering the original artwork behind a retaining wall.

In celebration of the university’s 375th anniversary, the Utrecht Whistleblowers Guild cast a bell named Anna Maria in honor of Anna Maria van Schurman, the first female student at Utrecht. Since 2011, this bell has hung in the turret above the entrance, marking another chapter in the long history of the Academiegebouw—a place where tradition and transformation continue to shape academic life.

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Academiegebouw (University Hall) on Map

1
30 m
100 ft
Leaflet © OpenStreetMap contributors
Sight Name: Academiegebouw (University Hall)
Sight Location: Utrecht, Netherlands (See walking tours in Utrecht)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Utrecht, Netherlands

Create Your Own Walk in Utrecht

Create Your Own Walk in Utrecht

Creating your own self-guided walk in Utrecht is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Utrecht Introduction Walking Tour

Utrecht Introduction Walking Tour

The earliest settlers to the area now called Utrecht likely arrived millennia ago during the Stone Age. While there are also signs of inhabitation during the Bronze Age, scholars today credit the Romans with building what became the town.

They set up a castellum around the year 50 AD, a fort right at a crossing point on the river Rhine. The fortress marked Rome's northernmost point in...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Utrecht's Historical Buildings Walking Tour

Utrecht's Historical Buildings Walking Tour

Originally founded by the Romans, and once the most important city in the Netherlands, Utrecht boasts a generous share of historically significant structures. The collection of its architectural masterpieces, one of the richest in the country, dates back to the early Middle Ages.

The amazingly well-preserved pieces of historic architecture in Utrecht showcase the trends and movements throughout...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles