Keek, Twinstraat, Utrecht

Above and below are pictures of the window signage for Keek, an independent bakery on Twinstraat in Utrecht. This approach of simple, mono-tone graphics, hand rendered in white paint seems, I noticed, to be favoured by a number of businesses in Utrecht. These ones in particular being painted by a friend of the business owner. I really love the effortless feel of these illustrations.

Utrecht Centraal Museum - Krijn de Koning Installtion

The images below are of Krijn de Koning’s work at the Centraal Museum, which I loved when I saw it. The installation occupies two floors and prior to the museums renovation the space was warren of doctors consultation rooms and corridors. 

De Kroning’s work is site specific and aims to interrupt environments by adding sculptural, architectural and colourful constructions. At the Centraal Museum, De Kroning knocked down some walls and left some standing complete with doors to create a new accessible space. The colours are bright and vivid, walking in and around the installation it was hard not to feel really cheerful.

60 years of Miffy – The Miffy Parade

Utrecht is the home of graphic artist, dick bruina, and 2015 is the 60th anniversary of his most famed creation, Miffy the Rabbit. I also visited the dick bruina huis whilst in Utrecht, was amazing to see more of his work and also the technique and process when he creates images of Miffy. More on that in another post though...

Miffy, or Nijntje in Dutch, was created in 1955 whilst bruina was on holiday in the north of Holland. He sketched a little rabbit that kept hoping into the garden of the family’s holiday home and each evening would make up stories about the rabbit to entertainment for his young son.

To celebrate 60 years of Miffy, 60 artists were approached and asked to decorate a statue for the Miffy Parade. The artists, working in many disciplines, drew their inspiration from the world of the Miffy and each decorated a 1.8m high statue of her. The status are on display throughout The Netherlands and Japan and below are some of the statues I found on display in Utrecht. The statues will eventually be auctioned to raise money for Unicef.

On the Tourist Trail 2

Whilst visiting Utrecht I also climbed the famous Dom Tower. The Dom Tower’s bells ring out across Utrecht every hour, each time playing a different sequence so that the residents can tell what time of day it is. On the weekend the official bell ringer is in residence and treats the town to a campanological concert; I Love to Hate You by the Pet Shop Boys being amongst the choice chimes on the Saturday I was there.

Instead of a ticket for Dom Tower you get a little passport and some badges to take away. I’m unsure why you’d need a passport, as such, to climb a tower however as examples of collateral I think the Dom Tower’s artwork is nicely considered and much more fun than plain, old admission tickets.

The view from the top: Utrecht from above with Dom Tower's shadow

On the Dutch Craft Beer Trail

One thing I’ve definitely developed during my five and half years in NZ is an appreciation for good beer. Where ever I go if I feel like a beer, it's fun to seek out the good, local stuff. One night whilst visiting Utrecht, my brother and I headed out on our bikes and after zipping around taking in the sights of Medieval Utrecht at twilight, we pulled up at great little bar, parked our bikes and headed in to sample a brew or two. I intended to take a quick snap of the pumps so I’d have a record of what we were drinking – I was never going to remember after two glasses 8% beer! However I forgot, so the names of those flavoursome brews will remain a mystery; though I can definitely recommend the Cafe Derat on Lange Smeestraat.

Two days later I was on the hunt for some more Dutch beer so ventured into the awesome Burt's Beirhuis on Twinjestraat. The beers in the images, from Maximus Brouwerij, caught my attention with their beautifully illustrated labels and not only that, they were brewed in Utrecht! Perfect! I got to appreciate the fantastic design of the beer labels as well as some local craft beer.

Visting the Rietveld Schröder House

Rietveld Schröder House

I visited Utrecht this NZ Winter for three days. I haven’t been to the Netherlands for years so it was a pleasure to go back there and also explore a town I hadn’t visited before. Utrecht is really lovely and positively ancient in comparison to Christchurch. After five years in NZ I was fully appreciating the old world Dutch-ness of it all with the narrow cobbled streets, canals and gorgeously wonky buildings. I was especially excited to find out that Utrecht is home of the Rietveld Schröder House. Even though I studied De Stijl in university and selected the movement as a topic for an essay, I hadn’t made the connection that Urecht was the home of the Rietveld Schröder House. I was stoked – nice one Tripadvisor.

You have to book a specific slot to visit the Schröder House so allowing plenty of time to reach my destination I set off, in proper Dutch fashion, on my one speed bike… and proceeded to get hopelessly lost. I had to stop a passing biker for directions who first gestured me the right way but then took pity on me and said he’d take me there himself as I’d “never find it otherwise”. How right he was.

As I’d missed the start of the tour I was hurried through the downstairs section in literally 30 seconds and told I could look through windows afterwards by the rather dour museum person.  It didn’t matter though, the upstairs was by far the coolest part with its sliding panels and multi-functional living spaces and I got to see the famous red and blue chair with my own eyes too. Although you’re not allowed to sit in it. 

It just goes to show how timeless good design is, the red and blue chair is nearly 100 years old but it’s still got a decidedly contemporary vibe about it. And the house itself is 90 years old and yet has a more radical approach to use of space than many contemporary homes to do. Access to nature was also an important part of the design. Every room, or area, in the house has outdoor access be it through a door or a balcony; although the house now faces a motorway that was built in the 1960s, which impacts on the nature side of things somewhat.

I was so glad I had the opportunity to visit the Rietveld Schröder House, it was brilliant. After taking a little time to peer through the windows of the downstairs, I set off again on my bike and managed to get straight back home without getting lost.

Delftware meets De Stijl

Front entrance with reading room on the left and kitchen window on the right