Utrecht is situated some 30 Km southeast of Amsterdam. It once was nationally important as the key religious center of the Netherlands, the seat of the Roman Catholic archbishop.
Unique in the Netherlands, the central canal in town is on a level all the way down from street level because of the low natural water table, so that wharf and storage facilities have been built under street level to the left and right of the main canal. This has resulted in an area with many sideway cafes and restaurants down by the water.
The beauty of the city center is the result of many centuries of organic growth. It boasts a well-preserved group of canals and ancient canal houses, which includes one mediaeval castle like building.
Right in the center we find the large Duomo (Dom) with its 110 meter high tower - and close by we find the most important museum of Christianity in the Netherlands. Named Catharijne convent, it shows objects from various religious branches in well designed galleries.
We may walk the streets, discuss its history and look at historic monuments and we may climb the tower of the 'Dom' up to the 95 meter platform.
Street scene towards the 'dom' tower. All photos here are Copyright Kees Kaldenbach, 2007.
The square between the Dom tower and the Dom church. The intermediate bit, once connecting the tower and apsis was blown to smithereens during a tremendous storm at 7.30 PM on August 1, 1674. To the right of the photo we see a replica of the Jelling stone, the famous inscribed rock from Jelling, Denmark commemorating the switch to christianity.
Sunshine vista from the tower at about 12:30. Please figure out for yourself what time of the year it is!
The cloisters of the 'Dom' as seen from the tower at a height of about 95 meters.
In the S-curve of the central canal we see the 'Shop of Sinkel' and in the background the mediaeval castle. Both lie on the water which is way down deep below street level.
The inner city canals lie in poetic stillness.
This boulder, which had arrived from Scandinavia in the glacial pack ice covering Northern Europe during one of the last Ice Ages, was laying about like an anomaly in the flat landscape for hundreds of thousands of years. Later on it was positioned by Utrecht inhabitants at the corner of a house. This rock was meant in order to keep the horses and waggons away from the corner of that house.
At night however the devil himself was heard playing wildly with this rock. A priest was called in to scare the devil away and later on the stone was firmly chained in order to keep the devil from playing any more nasty tricks.
The history of Christianity in the Netherlands can be studied in-depth the Rijksmuseum Het Catharijneconvent. This photo shows the interior court yard, once home of the nuns living in the Catharijne Convent. The museum collection is richest in Roman Catholic objects but spans all Christian denominations and all ages, from early reliquaries to present day religious objects.
A 10-minute walk to the south takes us to the Centraal Museum, holding many different collections, from a large well-preserved mediaeval ship to fashion rooms and a fine collection of paintings, especially those of the Utrecht school of Caravaggist painters.
On the outskirts, situated near an unsightly highway ramp, at Prins Hendriklaan 50, is the famous Schroeder house designed by Rietveld. When the architectural drawing was presented to the Municipal Beauty Committee it showed the roof line of the adjadent house. The drawing was passed without questions asked, the house was built and the rest is history.
It can be reached by car. My private car seats 3 to 4 adults.
As an art historian based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, I can meet you in Utrecht for a personalized guided tour of art museums and the historic center.
Together we will experience the beauty and history . Enjoy yourself and learn about history while strolling and discussing the country's history, art and culture. In doing so, we may touch many bases - spanning not only fine art and architecture but also the city's history and current social issues. See client testimonials.
Read a biography.
Starting at your hotel I will take you on a wonderful private cultural walking tour of your choice. My guided itinerary offers you accessable informative conversation in English, Dutch, or German (my French and Italian are more limited).
You may also arrange this VIP treatment for business contacts or friends. Our cultural tour organisation office will take care of a unique and memorable experience.
Drs. Kees Kaldenbach is your private "scholar-lecturer on culture tours" *.
*Martha Gellhorn, Travels with Myself and another, p. 182.
Please contact me for time and fees of the tailor-made tour you ar interested in.
These tailor made tours are available upon request - please contact me to book a date. Minimum group size: 1 person. Maximum group size is limited to about 10 persons. With a megaphone I can also manage larger groups on the streets.
Photo by Dick Martin.
Endorsements
The Rijksmuseum has done me the honor of linking the main Rijksmuseum site to my website. Start at www.rijksmuseum.nl and select Collection. Then choose 'Digital Collaboration' and the 'Digital Vermeer House'.
I conduct Rembrandt walks in Amsterdam for the Netherlands Bureau of Tourism, London and New York City offices. These clients include important journalists.
The travel site www.luxurytraveler.com has devoted a main feature to my tours and walks.
Read a biography.
Drs. Kees Kaldenbach has been featured in television and radio documentaries, including BBC2 TV, NTV Japan, Danish TV and Radio Netherlands World Service. In July 2004 he was interviewed about Utrecht artists by Tetsuya Tsuruhara for the leading Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun. In 2004 and 2005 he acted in an advisory role to additional BBC teams. Kaldenbach has written extensively on Vermeer and 17th century Utrecht, on Vincent van Gogh and on other art history topics.
Drs. Kees Kaldenbach is your private "scholar-lecturer on culture tours".
Further information is available on his encyclopedic web site: www.johannesvermeer.info
Contact
information:
Drs. Kees Kaldenbach , kalden@xs4all.nl
Haarlemmermeerstraat 83 hs
1058 JS Amsterdam
The Netherlands
telephone 020 - 669 8119 (from abroad NL +20 - 669 8119)
cell phone 06 - 2868 9775 (from abroad NL +6 - 2868 9775)
Reaction, questions? Read client testimonials.
Open seven days a week.
Member of the VVV Tourist information and the Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel).
Email responses and bookings to art historian Drs. Kees Kaldenbach.
This page forms part of the 2000+ item Vermeer web site at www.xs4all.nl/~kalden
Launched April 15, 2006. Updated December, 2006.
In Dutch: stadswandeling, stadstour, stads rondleiding met gids, rondleidingen Utrecht, rondleiding Utrecht, gids Utrecht, tour Utrecht, stadswandelingen Utrecht, stadswandeling Utrecht, museumbezoek Utrecht.
Menu
of tours