Amersfoort is a city and municipality situated in the Utrecht province of the Netherlands. It lies to the east of Amsterdam and Utrecht, positioned at the edge of their commuting area near the border with Gelderland. The settlement occupies a strategic location on the shortest route across low marshy ground from the Utrecht ridge to higher ground in the east. This geography places it on the main road connecting western Netherlands to northern Germany, as well as on major railway lines.

The name Amersfoort derives from a ford in the Eem River, formerly called the Amer, with the first written record appearing in 1028. The Bishopric of Utrecht fortified the site in the 12th century due to its strategic value, granting it city rights in 1259. A first defensive wall was completed around 1300, followed by a second wall built from 1380 to 1450. The city marked its 750th anniversary as a city in 2009, celebrating its long medieval history and continuous development.

The inner city has been well preserved since the Middle Ages, featuring the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwentoren, which stands 98 metres tall and serves as the origin of the Dutch national grid. Other key landmarks include the Koppelpoort gate, Muurhuizen street, and Sint-Joriskerk. The city is also known as Keistad due to the Amersfoortse Kei, a nine-tonne boulder dragged into the city in 1661. The historic centre is surrounded by ramparts and contains dozens of designated national monuments.

Amersfoort offers rich cultural attractions including the Mondriaan House, birthplace of Piet Mondriaan, and the Dutch Cavalry Museum housed in historic barracks. The city hosted the modern pentathlon events during the 1928 Summer Olympics and was a venue for the Dutch Open tennis tournament until 2008. Visitors can explore museums such as Flehite and Kunsthal KAdE, or visit the DierenPark Amersfoort zoo founded in 1948. The area also features accessible forest to the west and south.

As of 31 January 2023, the municipality had a population of 160,902, making it the second-largest in Utrecht province. It is one of the largest Dutch railway junctions with three stations: Amersfoort Centraal, Schothorst, and Vathorst. The city serves as a major hub for east-west and north-south travel. While specific climate data is not provided, its central location facilitates easy access by bicycle from nearby cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht.