Bibliotheek Neude in Utrecht
Utrecht's central library in the former main post office on the Neude: open every day, free to enter, with bookable study places, two cafés and bus stop Neude one minute away.
Photo credits
The former main post office on the Neude in Utrecht, home of Bibliotheek Neude, with the artwork by Maarten Baas on the facade.: Isabelle Cornet · CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answers
- Opening hours
- Monday to Saturday 09:00-21:00; Sunday 10:00-18:00
- Address
- Neude 113512 AE Utrecht
- Nearest stop
- Neude, 1 min walk (bus 2, 5, 8 and more)
- From Utrecht Centraal
- About 10 min walk, or bus 2, 8, 28, 50, 55, 73, 74 or 77
- Closest car park
- Q-Park La Vie, 6 min walk, paid
- Entry
- Free; guided tours free with a reservation
- Food and drink
- Meneer Potter on the ground floor, NODA on the second floor
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible; lift and adapted sanitary facilities
- Contact
- +31 30 286 1800
Holidays at Bibliotheek Neude
Open on the holidays: these nights are in the agenda.
- ChristmasTour Neude
- New Year's EveTour Neude
Bibliotheek Neude agenda: upcoming events
Tonight, this week and the months ahead at this venue in Utrecht.
Last night at Bibliotheek Neude: Guided Tour Neude, Comfort: Grief reading club with Lena Bril, Evening about loss and comfort in words and images
November 2026
Plan your visit to Bibliotheek Neude
How many people fit? Capacity of the building and its rooms
The library does not publish a capacity for the whole building. Neude11 hires out 11 rooms, from 8 to 300 people; the Grote Hal is the largest and the Theater seats 180.
- Whole building
- Not published
- Grote Hal
- 300 people
- Theater
- 180 people
- All 11 rooms
- 8–300 people
No whole-building figure is published; the table sets that alongside all 11 bookable rooms. The Grote Hal is the largest room at 300; the Theater seats 180.
| Room or building | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Bibliotheek Neude, whole building | Not published |
| Grote Hal | 300 |
| Theater | 180 |
| Collegezaal | 60 |
| Tribune | 60 |
| Filmzaal | 49 |
| Podium | 40 |
| Postzaal 2&3 | 20 |
| Directiekamer | 10 |
| Postzaal 1 | 8 |
| Postzaal 2 | 8 |
| Postzaal 3 | 8 |
Opening hours, staffed hours and booking a study place
Bibliotheek Neude is open every day. Monday to Saturday the doors are open from 09:00 to 21:00; on Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
Staff are available on all floors every day between 12:00 and 18:00. Outside those hours the branch is service-light: only the customer service desk on the second floor is staffed. The central customer service line is 030 286 1800, Monday to Friday from 13:00 to 17:00.
A work or study place is free for members aged 12 and over. Book the Stadsstudiehuis, a quiet space on two floors that you share with others, or a study cabin for calls and meetings; a cabin seats two, so you can bring one other person. Non-members can try a place once for free.
Reserve online for today or tomorrow. A block lasts at most 3 hours and you can book at most 2 blocks in a row; come as often as you like. Scan the QR code at your place when you arrive, and the booking lapses if you are 15 minutes late. Bring your own laptop; the wifi is free. In the open work areas, take calls elsewhere so you do not disturb readers.
- Monday to Saturday
- 09:00-21:00
- Sunday
- 10:00-18:00
- Staffed hours
- Every day 12:00-18:00, all floors
- Customer service
- Monday to Friday 13:00-17:00, 030 286 1800
- Study places
- Free for members aged 12 and over; non-members one free try
| Place | What it is | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Stadsstudiehuis | Quiet shared study area on two floors | Free for members aged 12 and over; book online |
| Study cabin | Private cabin for calls or meetings; seats two | Free for members aged 12 and over; book online |
Wifi, computers, printing and other facilities
The branch has individual work and study places, computers and laptops to practise on, free wifi and internet access, reading tables, an exhibition space and a film theatre. There are copying and printing facilities, and rooms are available for hire.
The public wifi network is Publicroam; the network name and password are posted in the building, and staff can help. There is a menstrual product point (MUP).
- Wifi
- Free, network Publicroam
- Computers
- Practice computers and laptops
- Printing
- Printing and copying facilities
- Film theatre
- In the building
- Menstrual products
- Menstrual product point (MUP)
Eating and drinking at Bibliotheek Neude: Meneer Potter and NODA
Meneer Potter on the ground floor and NODA Eetbar & Deli on the second floor are the two places to eat and drink in the building. You may also bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks.
Meneer Potter serves breakfast, lunch, early dinner, drinks and cocktails. It is open Monday to Wednesday and Sunday from 10:00 to 21:00, and Thursday to Saturday from 10:00, for as long as it stays fun; it closes on both days of Pentecost. The address is Potterstraat 3.
NODA serves breakfast, lunch, drinks and dinner with a view over the Oudegracht, and has its own entrance on the Oudegracht between Broese and Amac. It is open Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 18:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, and takes reservations from 6 people. It can close for a private event and is closed on Pentecost.
The house rules allow your own food and non-alcoholic drinks in the library, as long as you leave the table clean. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed.
- Meneer Potter
- Monday to Wednesday and Sunday 10:00-21:00; Thursday to Saturday from 10:00
- NODA
- Monday to Saturday 09:00-18:00; Sunday 10:00-18:00
- NODA reservations
- From 6 people
- Own food
- Allowed, non-alcoholic only
House rules: food, drinks, phones, photos and children
The library is a public building with clear rules: it is a place to read and study, so take calls and play audio where you do not disturb others.
Food and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed; alcohol, drugs and smoking are not, including open alcohol containers. Weapons, aggression, theft and vandalism are not allowed, and the library is not responsible for loss, theft or damage to your belongings. There is camera surveillance and your face must be visible: face-covering clothing such as a balaclava is not allowed, while headwear for religious or health reasons is. Assistance dogs are welcome, other pets are not.
You may photograph and film the interior and the collections, as long as no other visitor is recognisable; the library likes being tagged at @bibliotheekutrecht. For a professional shoot, contact the library well in advance and say which organisation you work for, what you want to film, when and in which branch. Children remain the responsibility of the adult they are with and may not be left alone. Staff enforce the rules and can ask you to leave, with a ban of up to a year.
- Alcohol
- Not allowed
- Smoking and drugs
- Not allowed
- Own food
- Allowed, non-alcoholic drinks only
- Photos
- Allowed if no other visitor is recognisable
- Children
- With a supervising adult; not left alone
Accessibility: wheelchair access, lift and adapted sanitary facilities
Bibliotheek Neude is wheelchair-accessible. There is a lift or stairlift to the floors and there are adapted sanitary facilities.
If you have a question about access, call customer service on 030 286 1800 (Monday to Friday from 13:00 to 17:00) or ask at the desk. Assistance dogs are welcome.
- Wheelchair
- Wheelchair-accessible
- Lift
- Lift or stairlift to the floors
- Sanitary facilities
- Adapted
- Assistance dogs
- Welcome
Getting to Bibliotheek Neude by bus, train, bike or on foot
The library is on the Neude, in the middle of Utrecht. Bus stop Neude is 70 metres from the entrance, a one-minute walk; bus 2, 5, 8, 18, 27, 28, 55, 73, 74 and 77 stop there.
From Utrecht Centraal it is about a 10-minute walk through Vredenburg and the Potterstraat, or a short bus ride on line 2, 8, 28, 50, 55, 73, 74 or 77 to Neude. The station is 880 metres away.
You can park your bike under the building. The storage is open daily and the first 24 hours are free.
Parking at Bibliotheek Neude: four garages within a ten-minute walk
Four paid garages are within a ten-minute walk of the entrance, and P6 is closed for now.
The library has no car park of its own. The nearest paid garages are Q-Park La Vie (6 minutes' walk) and the Interparking garages P1, P4 and P5 at Hoog Catharijne (5 to 10 minutes); all are open day and night.
Q-Park La Vie at Sint Jacobsstraat 1 has 344 spaces, and you can reserve a space online before you drive in. P5 Hoog Catharijne (Daalsesingel) has 1174 spaces. P1 (Spoorstraat 22) and P4 (Stationsstraat 29) are the other garages the library names. P1 and P4 cost €40 per 24 hours and P5 €45; Q-Park publishes its current rate on its site and in its app.
P6 on the Rijnkade is temporarily closed. Coming by bike is often quicker: the storage under the library is open daily and free for the first 24 hours.
| Garage | Address | Walk | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q-Park La Vie | Sint Jacobsstraat 1 | 430 m, 6 min walk | Paid; current rate in the Q-Park app |
| Interparking P5 Hoog Catharijne | Daalsesingel, 3511 LC | 520 m, 8 min walk | €45 per 24 hours |
| Interparking P1 | Spoorstraat 22 | 5-10 min walk | €40 per 24 hours |
| Interparking P4 | Stationsstraat 29 | 5-10 min walk | €40 per 24 hours |
- Q-Park La Vie
- 344 spaces, 6 min walk, open 24/7
- P5 Hoog Catharijne
- 1174 spaces, 8 min walk, €45 per 24 hours
- P1 Hoog Catharijne
- 354 spaces, €40 per 24 hours
- P4 Hoog Catharijne
- 395 spaces, €40 per 24 hours
- P6 Rijnkade
- Temporarily closed
Hiring a room at Bibliotheek Neude: 11 rooms, from 8 to 300 people
Neude11, the venue's room-hire arm, has 11 rooms in the building, from small post rooms for 8 people to the Grote Hal for 300.
- Rooms
- 11
- Grote Hal
- 300 people
- Theater
- 180 people, with a 4K projector
- Collegezaal
- 60 people
- Tribune
- 60 people
- Filmzaal
- 49 people
- Podium
- 40 people
- Postzaal 2&3
- 20 people
- Directiekamer
- 10 people
- Postzalen 1, 2 and 3
- 8 people each
- Cloakroom and lockers
- None; a small lockable room can be hired
| Room | Capacity | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Grote Hal | 300 | The library's showpiece; public space, on request |
| Theater | 180 | 4K projector |
| Collegezaal | 60 | Flexible layout |
| Tribune | 60 | View of the Neude and the books; public space, on request |
| Filmzaal | 49 | Flexible layout |
| Podium | 40 | View of the Dom |
| Postzaal 2&3 | 20 | Combined; view of the historic collection |
| Directiekamer | 10 | Private dinners |
| Postzaal 1 | 8 | Glass wall, plenty of daylight |
| Postzaal 2 | 8 | Can be combined with Postzaal 3 |
| Postzaal 3 | 8 | Can be combined with Postzaal 2 |
Official links
More from Bibliotheek Neude
About Bibliotheek Neude
Bibliotheek Neude is the central branch of Bibliotheek Utrecht, in the former main post office on the Neude in the centre of Utrecht. The library opened here in 2020, after the building was converted into a cultural centre with a library, film theatre, exhibition spaces, work places and bicycle storage.
The collection includes books, newspapers and magazines; members borrow books, but many visitors come to read, study or work. The Stadsstudiehuis is a quiet study area on two floors; study cabins can be booked for calls or meetings, and there are open reading and work places throughout the building.
The library runs weekly readings, guided tours and temporary exhibitions; the Neude11 rooms host book presentations, performances, conferences and team days. Meneer Potter on the ground floor and NODA on the second floor serve breakfast, lunch, drinks and dinner, and Neude11 hires out 11 rooms, from small post rooms to the Grote Hal for 300 people.
- Address
- Neude 11, 3512 AE Utrecht
- Part of
- Bibliotheek Utrecht, central branch
- Building
- Former main post office, opened as a library in 2020
From main post office to library: the building and its history
The library occupies the former Hoofdpostkantoor (main post office) at Neude 11, a rijksmonument (no. 514259). The post office, the last independent one in the Netherlands, closed in 2011; after a conversion into a cultural centre, Bibliotheek Neude opened to the public on 11 May 2020.
Architect J. Crouwel jr. designed the building in the Amsterdam School style. Construction began in 1919 and the building was completed in 1924. Its central hall is known for high parabolic arches, six stone sculptures by Hendrik van den Eijnde representing the continents and trade, and two lions at the entrance, also by Van den Eijnde. The stained glass above the entrance is by Richard Roland Holst; the hall clock is by De Porceleyne Fles.
The site is older still: around 1400 a Ceciliaklooster stood here, later the Rijksmunt, and the first Dutch postage stamp was printed here in 1852; a plaque in the hall remembers it.
- Built
- 1919-1924
- Architect
- J. Crouwel jr.
- Style
- Amsterdam School
- Rijksmonument
- No. 514259
- Library opened
- 11 May 2020
- Post office closed
- 2011
Photos
Photo credits
The former main post office on the Neude in Utrecht, home of Bibliotheek Neude, with the artwork by Maarten Baas on the facade.: Isabelle Cornet · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Great Hall of Bibliotheek Neude in the former post office, photographed from the south.: Isabelle Cornet · CC BY-SA 4.0
The east corridor under the roof of Bibliotheek Neude, with a view down into the main hall.: WeeJeeVee · CC BY 4.0
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Frequently asked questions about Bibliotheek Neude
What time does Bibliotheek Neude open?
Monday to Saturday at 09:00 and Sunday at 10:00. It closes at 21:00 from Monday to Saturday and at 18:00 on Sunday.
Is Bibliotheek Neude open on Sunday?
Yes, the library is open on Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, and it closes at 18:00 that day.
Can I book a study place?
Yes. Members aged 12 and over book free online for today or tomorrow; non-members can try once for free. A block lasts at most 3 hours and you can book at most 2 blocks in a row.
Is entry to the library free?
Entry is free, and guided tours are free with a reservation.
Where can I park near Bibliotheek Neude?
At Q-Park La Vie (6 minutes' walk) or Interparking P1, P4 and P5 (5 to 10 minutes). P1 and P4 cost €40 per 24 hours, P5 €45; P6 is temporarily closed.
How do I get there from Utrecht Centraal?
It is about a 10-minute walk through Vredenburg and the Potterstraat, or bus 2, 8, 28, 50, 55, 73, 74 or 77 to stop Neude. The stop is 70 metres from the entrance.
Can I bring my own food and drink?
Yes, your own food and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed if you leave the table clean. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed.
Is there wifi and can I print?
Yes: free wifi through Publicroam, plus computers, laptops and printing and copying facilities. Printing prices are not published; ask at the desk.
Is Bibliotheek Neude wheelchair-accessible?
Yes, with a lift or stairlift and adapted sanitary facilities. Assistance dogs are welcome.
Can I hire a room?
Yes, through Neude11: 11 rooms for 8 to 300 people, for presentations, conferences and performances. The Grote Hal and Tribune are public spaces and are hired on request.
Can I take photos in the library?
Yes, of the interior and the collections, as long as no other visitor is recognisable. For a professional shoot, contact the library in advance.
Can I park my bike at the library?
Yes, under the building. The storage is open daily and the first 24 hours are free.
Are there lockers or a cloakroom?
No, there is no enclosed cloakroom and no standard lockers. For an event you can hire a small lockable room next to your event room.
What is the history of the building?
It is the former main post office, built in 1919-1924 to a design by J. Crouwel jr. in Amsterdam School style. The library opened here on 11 May 2020.
Sources: Bibliotheek Neude: address, opening hours and facilities (October 30, 2026) · Bibliotheek Utrecht: workspaces and study places (October 30, 2026) · Bibliotheek Utrecht: parking and reachability (October 30, 2026) · NODA Eetbar & Deli (October 30, 2026) · Bibliotheek Utrecht: house rules (October 30, 2026) · Neude11: capacities (October 30, 2026) · Wikipedia: Hoofdpostkantoor (Utrecht) (October 30, 2026)
