The most entertaining Utrecht Walking Tour

Utrecht Fun Facts

Cities each have their own unique stories, and Utrecht is certainly no exception. In fact, most of the folk tales we have heard about Utrecht made us laugh, whether they were true or maybe not. During our super fun Utrecht Walking Tour, you won’t only hear the well-known facts and jokes, but you’ll also be treated to a wealth of fascinating tidbits and juicy anecdotes that only the true insiders know. And believe me, that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

In fact, there are countless other unique tales about Utrecht that will leave you in awe. Below, we’ve compiled a selection of Utrecht fun facts for you, so you can get a taste of the astonishing history and extraordinary characteristics of this city. 

The iconic Dom Tower

The starting point of our unique city walking tour in Utrecht is next to the impressive Dom Tower of Utrecht. A piece of the Dom’s rich history is, of course, not missing during our Utrecht walking tour. Here’s a little preview for you. Construction of the Dom Tower began in 1321 and lasted a whopping 60 years. Jan of Hainaut, also known as Jan van den Doem, was the first master builder of this imposing tower. With its Gothic architecture, the Dom Tower exudes the atmosphere of the late Middle Ages. Originally, the Dom served as the bell tower for the adjacent Dom Church and was initially connected to the church. However,  during a severe storm in 1674, the nave of the church (where congregants would usually sit) was destroyed, leaving only the bell tower and the choir. The remaining part of the Dom Church, the choir, and the Dom Tower still proudly stand on Dom Square to this day.

Throughout the centuries, the Dom Tower of Utrecht has served various functions. The large gate-like entrance of the Dom Tower, which you now walk or cycle under, used to be the entrance to the nave of the Dom Church. Directly above the gate was the private chapel of the bishop, better known as the Michael’s Chapel. Above this chapel, from the 15th century onwards, was the dwelling of the tower keeper. From the top of the tower, the tower keeper kept a watchful eye over the city. And let’s not forget that beneath the Dom, there is a spacious cellar believed to have once served as a prison.

There’s a tale that a pub was once located in the Dom Tower. Apparently, the bell ringer wasn’t quite making ends meet with his salary and decided to start a side business for some extra income. He thought that his workspace on the second floor of the Dom Tower was a perfect location to open a pub. Just one little problem: to reach the pub, guests had to pass by the bishop’s private chapel. I can imagine that this wouldn’t have been much of an issue on the way there. When sober, you can almost silently and discreetly tiptoe past the bishop’s quarters. But what are the chances of that when you’ve had a few too many? The bell ringer found a solution for this. By placing a ladder against the Dom Tower, regulars could discreetly reach the pub. Descending the ladder after a visit to the Dom Pub proved not entirely without risk, and many a spouse has desperately searched under the Dom for their husband.

Would you like to know more about the Dom Tower? Here you can read everything you need to know about the Utrecht Dom Tower. 

The Kalis bridge of Fish Bridge

You will pass by the Kalisbrug or Kalis Bridge, also known as the Fish Bridge, during our English walking tour in Utrecht. This bridge, along with the adjacent Corduanierbrug, was constructed between 1250 and 1325 and holds a significant role in Utrecht’s rich history. Here, along the Oudegracht (Old Canal), the fish market took place as early as the 12th or 13th century. The fish auction house on the Kalis bridge serves as a reminder of those bustling trade activities. Although the current auction house was rebuilt in 1942, it still feels like the old days. Nowadays, the house has been transformed into a charming dining establishment where you can have a meal or beverage on the bridge’s terrace.

What immediately catches your eye about the Kalis bridge is its unusually broad shape for a bridge. This is due to a clever merger in the 16th century, combining the Kalis bridge and the Corduanierbrug to create a larger area for bustling market activities. Up until the 20th century, the Kalis bridge regularly hosted markets featuring an abundance of fish and, at one point, even stamps. However, what truly astonishes is the statue on the bridge. You’ll see a market woman with three chickens under her arm. Yes, you read that correctly, chickens and not fish. It’s a somewhat peculiar sight on Utrecht’s historical fish market, but it’s precisely this quirkiness that makes it so intriguing and unique.

Castle De Haar 

The current De Haar Castle is more than meets the eye. Although it may not appear as a medieval structure, it boasts a rich history dating back to the 12th century. What started as a modest fortified residential tower has evolved over time into an impressive castle. Through the marriage of Yosina van de Haar and Dirk van Zuylen van Harmelen, the castle came into the hands of the Van Zuylen family in the mid-15th century.

The castle has endured challenging times, facing attacks and destruction that caused significant damage. During our city tour in Utrecht, you will also learn about the devastating storm in 1674, which not only struck the central part of the Dom Church but also heavily damaged the castle. By the end of the 19th century, the castle had fallen into ruins.

In 1890, Étienne Baron van Zuylen van Nyevelt van de Haar inherited the castle. With his charming personality and dressed as Hercules, he won the heart of Hélène de Rothschild at a masked ball in Paris. Despite opposition from both families, they decided to proceed with their marriage. With the financial means provided by Hélène’s wealthy Rothschild background, Étienne was able to rebuild the castle.

The renowned Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers, known for his works such as Amsterdam Central Station and the Rijksmuseum, was commissioned to reconstruct the castle in the French Medieval style. The castle is exquisitely furnished with the numerous treasures collected by the baron and baroness during their extensive travels. Their grandson, Thierry, transformed the castle into a hotspot for the international jet set, hosting famous guests such as Maria Callas, Brigitte Bardot, and Coco Chanel.

Our Utrecht tour guide won’t come anywhere near the Castle De Haar, as it lies just outside Utrecht, but it is definitely worth a visit. 

Exclusive cinema on Vredenburg

Yes, you read it right. In a building on Vredenburg, where a bicycle shop is now located, there was a cinema from 1977 to 1987 that exclusively screened adult films. The cinema opened its doors in 1913 under the name New-York Bioscoop and featured a model of the Statue of Liberty at the top. Ten years later, the name was changed to Palace Theater. During that period, they mainly showed newsreels, filmed summaries of current events from the pre-TV era, children’s films, cartoons, and feature films. However, things changed during the tumultuous 1960s. In 1960, the screening of adult films began in the evenings, but from 1977 onwards, these films were exclusively shown until the introduction of videocassettes around 1987. In 1991, the doors closed for good due to declining attendance numbers. Although Utrecht no longer boasts a unique cinema, in 2022, Zizi Love opened its doors on Steenstraat. Waffles in the shape of private parts are featured on the menu. You’ll learn more about this during the English walking tour in Utrecht!

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