Utrecht PRESS BOOK
Transcription
Utrecht PRESS BOOK
Utrecht PRESS BOOK visit-utrecht.com 1 CONTENTS Welcome to Utrecht Facts and Figures Grand Départ Tour de France Utrecht Cultural Heritage Miffy 60 years! Shopping Treasure Trove Utrecht Highlights Explore Utrecht Utrecht quotes Accessibility 2 5 7 9 10 12 13 14 15 20 22 23 3 WELCOME TO UTRECHT An old city with a big heart Utrecht, a unique city, a city with a rich history as well as a lively present. The beating heart of Holland has a medieval city centre small enough to discover by foot, large enough to wander around and enjoy the architecture, culture and endless shopping possibilities for days on end. Combined with its convenient location, located only 30 minutes from Schiphol Amsterdam Airport, and being easy accessible by all means of transportation, Utrecht is an inspiring destination for everyone! There is plenty to explore in Utrecht; Roman churches, medieval wharfs and of course the magnificent gothic Dom Tower, with its 112 metres the highest church tower in the Netherlands and symbol of Utrecht. Just outside the city you can find magnificent fortresses and beautiful castles. And it takes only little time to get there, you can even go there by bike. Nevertheless Utrecht has moved with the times, thus ensuring that modern architecture lovers are also drawn to the city. At the Utrecht Science Park, high-profile designs by some of the best Dutch architects set the scene, and the Rietveld Schröderhuis, the only UNESCO site of Utrecht, is an absolute must-see. The back of the former town hall displays interesting contrasts and if you have an eye for detail, you won’t miss the smallest Utrecht house. Utrecht has too much to offer for one day, there is plenty to explore even in the dark. Indulge your senses during Trajectum Lumen, a walking tour in the dark taking in enchanting works of light art. And don’t worry about getting to your accommodation on time because it is never far away. You are sure to feel right at home in a comfortable hotel bed or a small-scale B&B besides a quiet canal. Take plenty of time to relax and prepare for all the things Utrecht has in store. 4 UTRECHT PRESS OFFICE Whether you are interested in art and culture, tourist attractions, history, design, business, entertainment or nightlife, Tourism Utrecht is happy to arrange a press visit or to assist you in finding the best exhibitions or images of our city.. PRESS CONTACT For more information please contact the Utrecht Press Office: Susanne Canisius & Susanne Arkema Telephone: +31 (0)30 236 00 42 Email: [email protected] We are pleased to be of service. OUR SERVICES •We supply the latest information, press releases and news. •We develop tailor-made programmes for your visit (including overnight stay, dinners, personal guided tours etc.) •Suggestions and inspiration for surprising stories and interesting reports. •We provide copy right free images via an online database. •We can bring you in contact with relevant parties for interviews. COPY RIGHT FREE IMAGES Are you looking for attractive photos of Utrecht to illustrate your article about Utrecht? Simply request access to our database at Utrecht Press Office. The Utrecht Mediabank contains various photos which can be used copyright free and free of charge. The photos are divided in categories, so it will be easy to find the photo you require. The Utrecht Mediabank contains both day and nighttime images and is updated multiple times throughout the year. visit-utrecht.com/en/press Welcome to Utrecht! 5 FACTS AND FIGURES A rich past 47 BICYCLE CITY UTRECHT Utrecht is a young, dynamic city with a focus on youth and talent. Utrechters are young, highly educated and sport minded. Utrecht is a real bicycle city. Just between 07.00 and 19.00 everyday 90,000 cyclists go to and from the city centre. In the next few years the city will invest in safer and faster cycling routes and more parking places. 33,000 new parking places will be built in Utrecht including the worlds biggest World’s best cycling city... bike parking facility is being built next to the central station, which offers parking facilities for 12,500 bicycles. CN N 66 695 1122 1579 47 After Christ 695 After Christ 1122 After Christ 1579 After Christ Around 47 A.D. Romans built the castellum, the Traiectum, as part of reinforcements along the Rhine. The start of Utrecht on the current the Cathedral square, Domplein. In the 7th century, the English missionary Willibrord set himself up in the old fort and Christianised the Netherlands The city was de second Dutch city to obtain city rights in 1122 and remained the largest and main city of the Netherlands until the 16th century. The Union of Utrecht was signed in the city which was the foundation for the Dutch Republic. Famous Utrechters 1495 – 1562 Jan van Scorel (artist) 1888 – 1964Gerrit Rietveld (architect, famous for the Rietveld Schröderhuis and the Rietveld chair) 1927 – TodayDick Bruna (graphic designer, artist, writer. Most famous creation: Miffy) 1934 – 2010Anton Geesink (1964 Olympic judo champion in Tokyo) 1984 – Today Wesley Sneijder (soccer player) It’s in the name Icons • The Dom Tower, the highest church tower in the Netherlands, 112 metres high with 465 steps. • Medieval canals, wharves and wharf cellars, nominated as UNESCO World Heritage site. • Rietveld Schröder house, UNESCO World Heritage site. • Miffy, Dick Bruna’s famous creation. • Paushuize, historic city palace in the centre, intended as the residence for the only Dutch Pope ever: Adriaan Floriszoon Boeyens. (1459 – 1523). • Stelling van Utrecht, part of the New Dutch Water Defence Line. Facts and figures Residents Students Number of nationalities Surface area Districts Universities & Colleges Museums Wharves 1713 1713 After Christ Peace Treaty of Utrecht was signed in 1713 in the city. In Roman times, the name of the Utrecht fortress was simply Traiectum, denoting its location at a possible Rhine crossing. Traiectum became Dutch Trecht. With the U from Old Dutch “uut” (downriver) added to distinguish U-trecht from Maas-tricht the name Utrecht was born 330,000 70,500 168 99 km² 10 7 10 4k 7 GRAND DÉPART TOUR DE FRANCE UTRECHT This year the Tour de France will start in Utrecht. After five years the biggest annual sports event in the world is back in the Netherlands. The Grand Départ is a cycling festivity that perfectly fits bicycle city Utrecht. It is the chance for the world to meet the surprising city of Utrecht. The Netherlands and the Tour de France The Grand Départ of the Tour de France in Utrecht will be the sixth start in the Netherlands, a record for any country outside of France. It was in fact in the Netherlands that the first ever foreign start of the Tour de France was held. That was in Amsterdam, the nation’s capital city, in 1954, followed by Scheveningen (1973), Leiden (1978), ’s-Hertogenbosch (1996) and Rotterdam (2010). Utrecht will be the ninth Dutch city to host stages of the Tour de France. Besides the Dutch Grand Départ cities, the Tour has also gone through Maastricht in 1969, Sint Willebrord in 1978 and Valkenburg in 1992 and 2006. First stage Activities In anticipation of the start of the Tour de France in July, Utrecht will turn yellow. Many activities, exhibitions and events are planned around this grand event. With the media-attention generated by the biggest annual sports event, the Grand Départ is the perfect opportunity to tell the story of Utrecht and show the world the diversity of the city. The event is expected to draw 500,000 – 800,000 visitors in a week time. Second stage tourdefranceutrecht.com Important dates 26 March Kick off “100 days before the Tour” 1 JulyOpening of the staff HQ and press centre at the Jaarbeurs Utrecht Trade Centre 2 July Team presentation 4 July First stage, 13.7 km time trial 5 July Second stage, Utrecht – Neeltje Jans First stage The Tour de France will start on Saturday July 4th with an individual time-trial of 13.7 kilometres. The riders will follow a flat course straight through the city; from west to east and back. The starting stage will be installed in front of the Jaarbeurs Utrecht, the cyclists will then head towards Galgenwaard stadium, where professional football club FC Utrecht plays its home matches. From there they will go to Utrecht Science Park and Utrecht University, and then bend to the west. Going through the historic centre and the Maliesingel, past the Railway Museum, they will finish at Utrecht Central Station. Second stage The starting signal of the second stage on Sunday July 5th will again be given in front of Jaarbeurs Utrecht. The peloton will then ride through the streets of the city’s historic centre, along the canals and underneath the Dom Tower. Then they will reach the Maliebaan, with the house in which the first Dutch cycling association, the Nederlandsche Vélocipèdisten-Bond, was founded in 1883. The actual starting point of the second stage is located on the ‘t Goylaan, from where the route loops to the north of the city. After twenty kilometres through Leidsche Rijn, the new residential area on the westside of the city, the Tour will head towards Neeltje Jans, Zeeland. utrecht2015.com 88 9 Foto: EYOF Utrecht 2013 CULTURAL HERITAGE The province of Utrecht has a wealth of cultural heritage, innumerable museums, monuments, estates and visitor centres are located in the area. In De Vechtstreek and Utrechtse Heuvelrug many castles, fortresses and other monuments can be visited. The Roman Limes, the Nieuw Hollandse Waterlinie, former airbase Soesterberg all reminders of the Dutch military past. To all those places there is a rich history but also a lively present, a great story to tell. Amerongen Castle The history of Amerongen Castle dates back to the year 1286. In the 19th century, architect Pierre Cuypers completely renovated the place. For a brief period of time it became the home of emperor Wilhelm II of Germany before he found permanent residence in Huis Doorn. kasteelamerongen.nl Huis Doorn From 1920 until 1941, Huis Doorn was the residence of Wilhelm II, who lived in exile. After Germany was defeated in World War I in 1918, he was given political asylum in the Netherlands. The home paints an authentic picture of the princely lifestyle. huisdoorn.nl Slot Zuylen Castle Slot Zuylen Castle is located next to the river Vecht, just outside the city of Utrecht. In the 18th century, this mediaeval castle was rebuilt and turned into a country house. Its best-known occupant the writer Belle van Zuylen. Concerts, events and guided tours bring the past back to life. slotzuylen.nl De Haar Castle De Haar Castle the largest and most luxurious castle of the Netherlands. A visit to De Haar Castle brings the heyday of the castle and its inhabitants and the wealth of the rich and famous at the beginning of the 20th century to life. kasteeldehaar.nl Museum Oud AmelisweerdMuseum Oud Amelisweerd (MOA) is home of art in a scenic setting for three collections: the Armando Collection, the historic country estate and the Chinese Wallpaper Collection. moa.nl Soestdijk Palace Soestdijk Palace is a unique experience. On display are the representative period interiors and some of the private living areas of the most recent occupants, Prince Bernhard and Princess Juliana. paleissoestdijk.nl National Military Museum In the recently opened museum at the former airbase Soesterberg, the past, the present time and the future of the Dutch army comes to life. The history of the Dutch military is shown in an impressive manner in this interactive museum. nmm.nl Slot Zuylen Amerongen Castle Waterline Museum Fort Vechten A spectacular and unique museum is being built on Fort Vechten. The museum tells the story of water as an ally in the defense of the Netherlands and is located next to the second largest fortress in the country. The new museum will be open to the public in 2015. waterliniemuseum.nl Pyramid of Austerlitz The only pyramid of Europe is a relic from a time when the Netherlands, under French rule, was subject to massive changes which are still strongly visible at the present time. defransetijd.nl Waterline Museum Fort Vechten National Military Museum MOA Bunnik Huis Doorn Grebbeberg On May 10th 1940 German troops invaded the Netherlands and for three days, the Grebbeberg was the stage of heavy fighting that took the lives of more than 400 Dutch soldiers. Which made it the biggest and best known military operation on Dutch territory. grebbeberg.nl Soestdijk Palace 10 De Haar Castle Pyramide of Austerlitz Grebbeberg 11 MIFFY 60 YEARS! The year 2015 will mark a special anniversary for one of the world’s most famous children’s characters: Miffy, the little white bunny, will be 60 years old. Miffy was “born” on 21 June 1955 which was the day the Utrecht illustrator, graphic designer and writer Dick Bruna first drew the character to entertain his young son whilst on a rainy seaside holiday in Holland. Nowadays Miffy is published in more than 50 languages and the storybooks, which explore universal childhood experiences, have sold more than 85 million copies worldwide. The character appears on merchandise across five continents and has starred in her own TV series, musical and recent movie. Miffy’s enduring appeal is based largely on the simple, bright and familiar style of Bruna’s illustrations, loved by both adults and children. The same colours always recur: red, yellow, blue and green. Characters are always outlined in black, and were painted by Bruna with a brush rather than drawn with a pen which adds to the liveliness of the drawings. The ability to create expressive pictures from a minimum of lines and shapes is the real hallmark of Bruna’s genius. If you take out one line, the drawing is completely vanished. 60th celebratory events in 2015 will take place worldwide, but what would be a better place to celebrate than her own hometown Utrecht? The Centraal Museum is dedicating its largest exhibition hall to celebrate the famous bunny’s anniversary and many festivities are planned. For this event sixty famous artists from the Netherlands and Japan have each been asked to decorate a 1.80 metre white Miffy statue using their own unique approach. A new statue will be unveiled every day from March 4th onwards. The statues will be on display in prime locations in Utrecht, The Hague, Amsterdam and Japan from May 1st onwards. In July the dick bruna house will close for an extensive renovation and refurbishment. Mid-December the museum will open its doors again under a new name: Miffy museum. Nijntje is also the official icon of the start of the Tour de France 2015 in Utrecht. SHOPPING Utrecht is a true paradise for shopaholics! Walk from Utrecht Central station towards the city centre and you walk right into Hoog Catharijne; the covered shopping heart of the Netherlands. With trendy boutiques, art galleries, delicatessen and exclusive gift shops at each street corner and in each alleyway in the city centre, Utrecht has something to offer for everyone. The Twijnstraat is a very special shopping street in a wonderful part of the city centre. As the oldest shopping street in Utrecht, it is distinguished by the attractive boutiques and deli’s, which are very popular with people from all over the city. A local market is held in the area once a month. 12 visit-utrecht.com 1313 UTRECHT HIGHLIGHTS DOM TOWER More than 600 years old, the Domtoren (Dom Tower) is the highest church tower in the country. At 112 metres, it soars above the Cathedral Square, and high above the city. When the 465 steps are climbed accompanied by a tour guide, the effort is rewarded by a fantastic view over the city. domtoren.nl DOM UNDER TREASURE TROVE OF CULTURE On a cultural level, Utrecht has some truly great attractions. The city is very proud of its unique Museum Quarter, where historic sights, museums and cultural institutions are to be found. 14 2000 years Utrecht. Since the summer of 2014 you can descend into DOMunder: a fascinating underground world with relics and stories of 2000 years of Dutch history at the Domplein, the square where Utrecht was founded. From the Roman castellum Traiectum, the Romanesque cathedral and churches, to the remains of the Gothic cathedral left in the wake of a tornado in 1674. Walking between the immense pillars of the Gothic cathedral, you can experience it all. domunder.nl 15 MIFFY MUSEUM RIETVELD SCHRÖDER HOUSE There is just one Utrecht creation more famous than the Rietveld chair: Miffy, the little rabbit Utrecht artist Dick Bruna designed in 1955. In 50 years time, Miffy has risen to international fame, not only as a character in children’s book but also as a design icon. The dick bruna huis has Dick Bruna’s work permanently on display but will be closed for extensive renovation from July 2015 till December 2015. The Rietveld Schröder House (also known as the Schröder House) in Utrecht was built in 1924 by Dutch architect Gerrit Rietveld for Mrs. Truus Schröder and her three children. The architectural masterpiece is an icon of the city of Utrecht, con sidered as a highlight of ‘De Stijl’ and is listed a monument on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2000. nijntjemuseum.nl rietveldschroderhuis.nl UTRECHT SCIENCE PARK & MODERN ARCHITECTURE The museum has an extensive collection of old, modern and applied art and fashion and city history collections. Besides it’s collection of old masters, which includes paintings by Jan van Scorel and Abraham Bloemaert, the museum also has contempory fashion and design and visual art on display. The largest Rietveld collection in the world including the famous Rietveld chair, is owned by the Centraal Museum. With Utrecht University as best university of the Netherlands, University Medical Centre Utrecht as one of the biggest public health facilities in the country and many innovative companies and research facilities, Utrecht Science park is the heart of the knowledge based economy. A visit to Utrecht Science Park can be an enriching experience; it offers many hidden treasures. Internationally celebrated architects like Rem Koolhaas, NL Architects, Wiel Arets and Eric Egeraat designed award-winning buildings. Utrecht Science Park has its own Central Park: centrally located are the beautiful Botanic Gardens. Utrecht University celebrates her 380th anniversary in 2016. centraalmuseum.nl utrechtsciencepark.nl CENTRAAL MUSEUM 16 17 CANALS AND WHARVES MUSEUM SPEELKLOK Because of the importance of Utrecht the city developed into a busy centre of trade. No other city in the world has comparable pedestrian quays along the water. They were constructed centuries ago to allow access to the cellars under the buildings lining the canals. Nowadays, many wharf cellars house restaurants, boutiques, bohemian cafes and bars. The most musical museum in the Netherlands! This museum has been collecting and repairing instruments that play automatically and which have provided fun for both young and old for over 600 years. museumspeelklok.nl visit-utrecht.com TRAJECTUM LUMEN An exploratory expedition in the dark which takes in artistically highlighted locations in the magnificent Utrecht city centre. From the centrally located Vredenburg, a light trail leads to works of art by renowned light artists who bring the present and past of the city to life. trajectumlumen.com FESTIVALS & EVENTS SPOORWEGMUSEUM 18 The Spoorwegmuseum is the largest museum of Utrecht and tells the story of 175 years of railways in the Netherlands. The museum is located in the Maliebaanstation and next to the beautiful train wagons you can see and go down an old mine and visit the Orient Express and theatre. Utrecht has an extensive number of cultural events that continuously take place in and around the city. From Monuments Day to theatre festival and from musical event to the film festival. Utrecht teems with cultural festivals all year round, and has the Cultural Sundays; special days with a lively programme full of theatre, dance, music, films, workshops, etc. on large and small stages, squares and in parks. spoorwegmuseum.nl visit-utrecht.com 19 EXPLORE UTRECHT With its built-in combination of a rich past and dynamic present, the 2000-year-old city of Utrecht is a very special venue with a great selection of interesting museums and cultural events, with programmes filled with theatre, dance, art and culture. In addition, the historic city centre is known for its lively yet intimate character and its compact scale placing most locations of interest within walking distance. Utrecht is a perfect city for a surprising visit and is easily accessible because of its favourable location in the heart of the Netherlands, just 30 minutes by train from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. All press programmes are compiled according to the requirements of the journalists. Programmes are customised and include overnight accommodation, a city guide, admission tickets and suggestions. We can also organise interviews.. Press Programme Suggestion Day 1 Morning Upon arrival in Utrecht you are welcomed by Tourism Utrecht. Check in at your accommodation • Karel V • Mother Goose Hotel • B & B Het Gekroonde Visje An experienced guide will show you around in the city according to your wishes. There are several themed walks such as history, architecture, shopping, museum quarter. Afternoon Enjoy a delicious lunch in for example • Sector 3 • Stan & Co • De Bakkerswinkel 20 Climb the 465 steps of the 112-meters high Dom Tower accompanied by a guide and enjoy the spectacular view over the city and surroundings. When you are back with both feet on the ground, go even further down and discover the magical world of DOMunder with a guide. Learn about the interesting stories and see the ruins of the former Dom square. Day 2 Evening Take a canal cruise through the beautiful canals of Utrecht in the afternoon and discover Utrecht from the waterside. Have dinner in one of the restaurants in a historic wharf cellar at a magnificent location at the Oudegracht. Explore Utrecht by night by walking Trajectum Lumen, an exploratory expedition in the dark taking in artistically highlighted location in Utrecht city centre. End the walk with a nice glass of wine in Talud9 or Lefebvre. After enjoying a nice breakfast in your hotel visit the extensive collection of ancient and modern art the Centraal Museum. Afterwards hop on a bike and cycle to the Rietveld Schröder House, for an audio tour through the architectural masterpiece by Gerrit Rietveld. Attend a concert in TivoliVredenburg festival or event in the city or take in an exhibition in one of the many museum and end the day with a (home-brewed) beer in city castle Oudaen or Cafe Olivier 21 UTRECHT ACCESSIBILITY Utrecht is conveniently located in the heart of the Netherlands on a crossroad of rails, roads and waterways. Utrecht is the ideal operating base for a visit to the Netherlands. “If you want canals, gothic architecture and waxy cheeses without having to dodge British bachelor parties yakking regurgitated Heineken onto your souvenir clogs, Utrecht beats the old Amsterdam hands-down.” TO UTRECHT By train Utrecht Central Station is the national hub, with trains arriving from and departing to every corner of the country almost every minute. It also is an European train junction. International trains from all over Europe arrive daily, such as the high-speed Thalys (Paris) and ICE International (Frankfurt). Daily international trains from and to Brussels (2 hours), Cologne (2.5 hours) and Paris (3.5 hours). CN N “One of the world’s most happiest places to live. A compact city filled with delightful cafes and restaurants, thousands of students and many artists and musicians. Along the Oudegracht, the central canal, cellar-level bars and pubs line the towpath, which is a charming place to watch the boats and birds go by.” nshighspeed.nl Amsterdam and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport are just 30 minutes by train; Rotterdam and The Hague at 45 minutes. Station area The station area is undergoing a ‘facelift’ with the ultimate goal to combine the station and the old city centre. Inconvenience is limited as much as possible and Utrecht remains easily accessible. CU2030.nl ns.nl BBC “Utrecht in top 10 ‘Unsung’ places of the world: “Perhaps it’s the lure of Amsterdam that leads people to forget Utrecht. Whatever the reason, this graceful city is bizarrely under-visited. Its old town is encircled by a medieval canal, and you can hop on a boat tour to visit the city’s bustling, vibrant wharves.” 22 IN UTRECHT Within Utrecht you can travel on the modern and efficient public transport system, or explore the city by foot as everything is located within short distances. The number of bikes in Utrecht, as in the other Dutch cities, will baffle you. Bikes are by far the easiest means of transportation, and can be rented from several locations and hotels. By car Utrecht is located 40 km southeast of Amsterdam, 125 km from Antwerp and 175 km from Brussels. Surrounded by three of Hollands largest highways, the city is within easy reach from all directions. amsterdam (schiphol) 35 km utrecht rotterdam L o n e ly P la n e t 23 24 Utrecht Press Office T. +31 (0)30 236 00 42 [email protected] visit-utrecht.com
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