Mysteries of Utrecht
The first known settlers of Utrecht were the Romans, who built the castellum Traiectum around 50 AD, right where today’s Dom Square is located. But humans had already lived in the Utrecht region for over 6,000 years.
Among the medieval cities of the Netherlands, Utrecht stands out with a story of its own. From the 8th century onward, the city was ruled by powerful bishops. Kings and emperors paid visits, and from the 11th century, churches, monasteries, and secular buildings began to rise. Utrecht is famous for its historical landmarks—especially the iconic Dom Tower—and its maze of alleyways offers a glimpse into life long ago.
Ready for your first challenge? Solve the mysteries (okay Googling is allowed 😉).
Every month, we raffle off a 2-hour boat tour among the customers of Canal Cruising Utrecht.
1. Wharf Cellars
2. Dom Tower
Unique — that’s the word for the wharf cellars along Utrecht’s inner canals. You won’t find them anywhere else in the world, which makes them truly and typically Utrecht.
There are over 900 of them (!) and they’re incredibly old. The first ones appeared around the year 1150. They were originally built as storage spaces and passageways for goods that arrived by boat via the city’s canals.
→ Which building along the Oudegracht likely had Utrecht’s very first canal cellar? (take a photo of the cellar)?
On June 26th, 1321 — a sunny and festive day — the first stone of the Dom Tower was laid. The people of Utrecht gathered in large numbers to witness this historic moment. After more than 60 years of construction, in 1382, the tallest tower in the Low Countries was completed — a proud symbol of the power of the church.
In 1566, the Iconoclasm swept through the Netherlands. Protestants destroyed statues and holy relics in Catholic churches, including the Dom. From that moment on, it became a Protestant church.
→ But what happened in 1674?