Centrally located in the Netherlands, the province of Utrecht borders Eemmeer to the northeast, Gelderland to the east and south, South Holland to the west, and North Holland to the northwest. Despite being the smallest Dutch province by land area, its physical geography is incredibly diverse.
The western and northern parts of the province consist mainly of flat peat meadows, polders, and agricultural land, intersected by rivers such as the Vecht, the Lek, and the Kromme Rijn. This area is also famous for the Loosdrechtse Plassen and Vinkeveense Plassen—interconnected lakes created by historic peat extraction that are now vital for nature and water recreation. In stark contrast, the eastern part of the province is defined by the *Utrechtse Heuvelrug*, a forested ridge of sand left behind by glaciers during the Saalian glaciation.