Some story about Utrecht: The city of Utrecht
Utrecht is a city with 2 different faces. A modern city with a huge traffic infrastructure and an ancient city with a living and visible history of more that 2000 years.
When you arrive by train or bus, you will first see a huge shopping mall connected to the modern central station, named Hoog Catharijne. Walking towards the city center you will come across an open elevated square with a 70 meters high ballroof. Under the square the world largest bicycle garage is situated with three floors of stored bicycles of travellers who wish to catch a train or a buss.
Walking on towards the old city, you will cross the canal Catharijnesingel, that circles around the inner city and used to be the moat around the citywall to protect the old city from intruders and enemies. Since ages the citywall was broken down and the canal slopes were build into a recreational park.
The old city's landmark is the 112 meter high and 700 year old Domtower, which is also the center of the 2000 year history.
The iconic Dom Tower is Utrecht's pride and joy – a special monument with a unique story. At 112 metres, it remains the highest church tower in the Netherlands. The tower has been the central feature of the city for centuries, and has borne witness to the trials and tribulations experienced by its citizens. The tower survived violent storms, occupations by foreign powers and fires – but it has also seen festivities, flourishing trade and the expansion of the city.
Utrecht's history began 2000 years ago on the site of the Dom Square today. That is also where the tumultuous past of the city and the Dom Tower begins.
The Roman Limes: 47 AD
Like many European cities, Utrecht started out as a Roman fortress. The Roman Emperor Claudius had various settlements built along the Rhine, the northern boundary of the Roman Empire. The frontier of the Roman Empire is also referred to as the Limes. One of these so-called castellums was Trajectum, which is now the city of Utrecht. Due to the elevated, sandy ground, the river was easy to ford here, and Trajectum soon became a busy trading post. In 275 AD, the Romans abandoned their settlement.
The arrival of Christianity: 630 – 695
The period until about 650 AD is shrouded in mystery. When, around 695, the Frankish king assigned the former castellum to Willibrord as a mission post, Utrecht's fate as an ecclesiastical centre was sealed. Willibrord restored the dilapidated walls of the old castellum and built a church which he consecrated to Saint Martin.
Utrecht and St Martin:
Ever since the missionary Willibrord consecrated the little church to St Martin, there has been a link between the city of Utrecht and the saint. St Martin is the patron saint of the 'Dom city', which is why the Dom Tower is also referred to as St Martin's Tower. According to the legend, St Martin shared his red-and-white cloak with a beggar while serving as a Roman soldier in the 4th century AD. He later converted to Christianity and became Bishop of the French city of Tours.
You can still find the red-and-white colours everywhere today, for example in the city's flag or the shirts worn by Utrecht's football team, FC Utrecht. The feast of St Martin is celebrated in Utrecht every year, on and around 11 November.
The Vikings: 857 – 920
The Vikings tear through Europe and destroy the church. Willibrord's successors flee to Deventer. In 920, Bishop Balderic is able to return to Utrecht, and the St Martin's Church is restored.
The Roman Dom: 1015 – 1023
Once again the church is severely damaged, this time by a fire. The church is torn down, and Bishop Adalbold begins the construction of a new, very large Cathedral of St Martin in the Roman round arch style. The new church is consecrated in 1023.
Roman Church ca. 1100
Lofen Palace and city rights: 1040 – 1122
Around 1040, the highest secular authority, the German Emperor, builds a medieval city residence, Lofen Palace, within the walls of the former castellum. The fundaments of this building are still underground and can be visited.
On 2 June 1122, Emperor Henry V grants Utrecht and its citizens city rights. The charter is one of the oldest documents in the city's possession, and can be found in the Utrecht Archives. So in 2022 the city of Utrecht has a celebration of its 900 year birthday.
The Gothic Dom: 1254
In 1253, a huge fire destroyed much of the city, and possibly also a part of the Dom. In 1254, the first stone was laid for a new and even bigger Gothic cathedral on the site of the Roman church. We do not know whether the fire prompted the construction of the Gothic Dom, but it took place fairly soon after the catastrophe. Construction began with the choir, followed by the tower, the transept and the nave.
If you want to know more about Dom Square, make sure to visit DOM under, the underground journey of discovery into the origins of Dom Square, with the remains of the fundaments of the different historical artefacts of 2000 year history.
1321 – 1342
The construction of the Dom Tower begins in 1321, so in 2021 Utrecht celebrated its 700 years birthday. In 1382 the Dom Tower is completed.
As a city that untill 1122 was 'owned' by the Church, it has many marks that remember this time, as there is still a large collection of churches that originate from the middle ages with many different eras and styles, from Roman, Gothic or Rococo and Neo Roman and Neo Gothic. Many churches were restored and during high season can be visited with guides who can show and tell interesting details.
The Romans settled a fortress along the river Rhine. The river is still running through the city and one river arm is an important canal that is still vital for transportation for the merchandising in the city. The old canal (Oudegracht) is still a center of commerce for the city, with a large collection of canal houses or traders surrounding it. The traders who owned and built the houses also need storage and since ground was expensive they decided to build cellars under their houses, which were also close to the waterfront where goods were delivered by boats. This way they created 2 street levels: 1 street level to enter the shops and 1 street level to deliver the goods. A very practical infrastructure that is still used today. A canal boat tour is recommended to watch the beauty and glory of the canals and it's houses.
Nowadays the structure of canal wharves and cellars are still in-tact and restored. They have many different functions, from art-gallery or living-house, from café-restaurant or theatre. Since the canalhouses in Amsterdam were built on a swamp with an in and outgoing tide, they were not able to built cellars under their canalhouses. The 2 street levels are unique for the city of Utrecht.
Another interesting fact of the Dutch history is still visible today: Houses and chambers built in a court. In the past poor people were dependant on well fare from the church or wealthy people. Wealthy people in history could decide to invest in a group of smaller houses so called kameren (chambers) nextdoor to their own luxurious mansion. Building the houses with a back yard, so the inhabitants could grow their own vegetables to eat or flowers to sell on the market.
The city of Utrecht has a number of interesting museums, such as:
- Museum Speelklok (mechanical self playing musical instrument and organs);
- Centraal museum (art and costumes);
- Museum Domunder (archeology of the history of the Dom Square);
- Catharijne Convent (religious art and exhibitions);
- Museum Sonneborgh (astrology);
- Universiteits museum (with the 2nd oldest botanical garden);
- Railway museum (large variety of entertainment with real and toytrains and railways);
- Museum Betje Boerhave (shop like they used to be in 1870);
- Dom Tower (climb the stairs, enjoy the view and learn about the history);
- Utrechts Archief (exhibitions on the history of Utrecht).
The city of Utrecht also has a number of interesting markets, such as:
- Lapjesmarkt (fabric market every Saturday morning Breedstraat);
- Bloemenmarkt (flowermarket every Saturday Janskerkhof);
- Boerenmarkt (farmer's market, every Friday Vredenburg).
There s a lot to tell about Utrecht. Such as visiting the countryside with rivers, fortresses, windmills, countryhouses, castles and palaces. It is better to come and experience the beauty of the city for yourself.
