The large boulder was placed to prevent damage to the corner of the building by wagon wheels. Legend has it that devils played marbles with the stone at night. Local residents grew tired of the infernal noise and, after a priest had driven away the devils, chained the boulder. In 1520, the boulder was already […]
View on the Bemuurde Weerd
View of the Bemuurde Weerd This cityscape was drawn around 1830 by Jan Hendrik Verheijen (1778 – 1848). To the right of the center, the Weerdsluis is visible: the spot where the Utrecht city moat merges with the river Vecht. This lock was constructed in the Middle Ages to regulate the water level in the […]
The Old Houtensepad – old toll road
Oude Houtensepad formerly known as Houtense Zandweg Around Utrecht, there were various toll roads in the past, such as the Oude Houtensepad, formerly known as the Houtense Zandweg. This road was an important access road to the southern part of the province of Houten and Schalkwijk. It was therefore a toll road, with an accompanying […]
Sawmill Kranenburg
The Kranenburg sawmill This wind sawmill was built in 1797 for sawing wood that was transported via the Krommerijn river. The mill was built by B. Reyster and changed owners several times. Between 1815 and 1922, the miller collected tolls from passing barges and timber rafts that sailed between Utrecht and Wijk bij Duurstede. These […]
former public reading room
Former Public Reading Room Former public reading room built in 1910 in late Neo-Renaissance style, designed by J. Stuivinga. On the right-hand side is the accompanying service residence. Prior to this, the house of 17th-century theology professor Gisbertus Voetius (1589-1676) stood on this site.
The big Chapter House of the Dom
Built in 1462/67 on the site of an older and smaller building, this structure was used for special gatherings, such as the meeting of the five chapters in which a new bishop was elected. It was also the meeting hall for the States of Utrecht until 1528. On January 25, 1579, the Union of Utrecht […]
fire extinguisher house
extinguisher house This fire extinguisher house of the voluntary fire brigade dates from around 1860. In the time when there was no motorized transport, it was considered important to spread the apparel needed to extinguish fire throughout the city, so that they could be deployed quickly in the event of a fire. This is one […]
Chambers of Jan van Campen
Rooms by Jan van Campen In 1574, Jan van Campen renovated his house, giving rise to four large and nine small rooms attached to the Leeuwenbergh guest house. The nine rooms still exist. In 1645, when the Nieuwe Kamp was built, part of it was demolished and replaced, of which one house still exists. The […]
Metelerkamp Foundation
Metelerkamp Foundation Far into the 19th century, wealthy people built homes for the poor. In 1844 Miss P.P.J. Metelerkamp ordered five houses with two rooms. However, three of these (in the alley) were occupied by multiple families, bringing the actual number of homes to 8. These double-occupied houses were therefore real ‘chambers’. The distribution of […]
Malie gate and House Lepelenburg
Maliepoort and Huis Lepelenburg Original from the Utrecht archive Dirk van der Burg The inside of the Maliepoort and the Lepelenburg house, 1770 Donated by “Centre Utrecht” Association of independent entrepreneurs in the city center