In the Middle Ages, the bishops of Utrecht were also prince-bishops of the Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht within the Holy Roman Empire. The Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht must not be confused with the Diocese of Utrecht, which was larger than the Prince-Bishopric. Over the larger area outside the Prince-Bishopric, the bishop exercised only spiritual, not temporal, authority.
In 1580, the diocese was suppressed because of the rise of Protestantism. The Dutch Mission in various forms took care of the spiritual needs of Catholics in the former diocese of Utrecht until the modern archdiocese was established in 1853.
^(in Dutch) Achtergronden aartsbisdom. Retrieved on 2009-10-13.
^ a bArchdiocese of Utrecht. Retrieved on 2009-10-13.
^(in Dutch) De Kathedraal. Retrieved on 2009-10-13.
^(in Dutch) Aartsbisschop. Retrieved on 2009-10-13.
^"Lijst van Nederlandse bisschoppen sinds 1853". ru.nl/kdc (in Dutch). Nijmegen: Radboud Universiteit. Katholiek Documentatie Centrum. Retrieved 2014-07-07.
^"Bishop Goswin Haex von Loenhout, O. Carm." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016
^"Bishop Godefridus Yerwerd, O.S.B." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016
^"Bishop Bonaventura Engelbertz van Oldenzeel, O.F.M." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016
^"Bishop Nicolas Van Nienlant" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016 and again on September 4, 2020