interessant.in / Utrecht

A sunny Saturday or Sunday afternoon in Wilhelminapark: don't miss this fun and lazy experience. Fill your picknick basket with good stuff, call or whatsapp your friends  and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere!

Groups of friends, families with kids, young couples in love: they will all be there. There are groups playing soccer or throwing a frisbee, sun worshippers do just that, a barbeque is being lit. Walking around you may hear seven or eight different languages.

Unlike in the inner city parks, such as park Lepelenburg, there is no alcohol ban in Wilhelminapark (yet). But keep it pleasant!

Unlike the busy Oudegracht, the Nieuwegracht ("New canal") offers a place of tranquility in the city of Utrecht. This is mostly because Nieuwegracht is not a shopping zone but more residential. As a result, ground level facades have not been modernized. Nieuwegracht starts just south of Dom Church. The intersection of Trans, Pausdam, Kromme Nieuwe Gracht and Nieuwegracht offers a great opportunity for a 360 degree panoramic view of historical Utrecht.

From this starting point, wander along Nieuwegracht and observe the plaques embedded in many houses. Do not forget to walk a part of the journey at the waterfront level. The waterway of Nieuwegracht leads to Tolsteegsingel, a part of the former water defence line of the city. At the end of Nieuwegracht you can see Sonnenborgh, the observatorium and museum, and looking right you look into Agnietenstraat.

While walking along the canal you will pass Centraal Israëlitisch Weeshuis (Central Israelian Orphanage), located at Nieuwegracht 92. In 1942 the inhabitants and staff of this building were deported by the German occupation force, first to camp Westerbork and from there to several concentration camps in Eastern Europe. So-called "Stolpersteine" or stumbling stones in front of the entrance remind us of this black page in the history of this building.

The Zoudenbalch residence (known by locals as "the house with the red shutters") stems from the second half of the 15th century and is located on Donkerstraat, a side street of Steenweg (pedestrian zone). The Zoudenbalch family in those days was one of the richest families in the city of Utrecht. They also were the owners of Oudaen, a so-called city castle on the Oudegracht (currently bar and restaurant).

The Zoudenbalch residence consists of several buildings that have been joined. In Mariastraat you will find remains of a monumental gate that provided access to the rear courtyard of the residence.

Unfortunately, the interior of the house was gravely damaged during a fire in 1903. After several reconstructions the building now contains aparftments; as a result, the building does not provide public access. Maybe you can get yourself invited by one of the current residents!