Utrecht
The province of Utrecht lies in the very heart of the Netherlands. The smallest Dutch region is surrounded by North Holland, South Holland, Gelderland and Flevoland. Many lakes and swamps form the northern part of the area, while the south and west are predominantly occupied by drained marshland, used for agriculture. In the eastern end of the province, some diversity of terrain appears, caused by a group of low hills known as Utrechtse Heuvelrug. Except for the capital, Utrecht, the rest of the area has an explicitly rural character and is perfect for cycling tours along the dense network of paths. The city of Utrecht is the only significant settlement in this province, and is the fourth-biggest city in the country. It's regarded as the centre of Christianity in the Netherlands and boasts a number of old churches worth seeing. The undeniable pearl among them is the local Cathedral, with its imposing bell tower.