A visit to medieval Utrecht is not complete without a visit to Museum Catharijneconvent. Wander the halls of a medieval monastery and be enchanted by the most beautiful collection of medieval art in the Netherlands. Marvel at the glittering gold and silver in the Treasury, admire paintings by Rembrandt, Jan Steen and their contemporaries and visit our unique temporary exhibitions.
Museum Catharijneconvent occupies a characteristic building in the old city centre of Utrecht. The building has a long history going back to the fourteenth century. Originally, it was the site of a shelter for the homeless. In the fifteenth century the Carmelites acquired the land and built a convent. Later, the knights of St John turned it into a hospital, which it remained until the beginning of the nineteenth century. Subsequently it served various other functions until becoming a museum in 1979.