Quay walls in old Utrecht city centre
Description
Structural solutions for centuries-old quay walls
Utrecht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. Maastricht stands unchallenged at No. 1, followed by Nijmegen and Utrecht, which will compete for the honour. Located on a sandy ridge, there was already a settlement in prehistoric times. The Romans built their fort Trajectum in 50 AD, which was located at a crossroads of roads along the northern border of the Roman Empire. In the Middle Ages, Utrecht (then Trecht) became a church centre. Trade flourished during this time.
In 1122, Utrecht was granted city rights, which was an important impetus in the development of the city with its quays, wharfs and cellars along the canals. Some still date from the Middle Ages, while others have been restored over time. In today's city, there are still many remains that show the history. The Kromme Nieuwegracht is a distinctive piece of Utrecht where history is there for the taking.
Over the years, various repairs to the quay and vault walls along the Kromme Nieuwegracht have been carried out. Recent plans to improve the foundations started in 2015. These are old structures that are sometimes more than 1,000 years old, situations that will have to be taken into account. Knowledge of the history is therefore very important to avoid "surprises" as much as possible during implementation. To this end, surveys have been carried out, sometimes using modern techniques, but archival research is at least as important. Because of the variation in time in which the various cellars were built, all addresses with cellars on the Kromme Nieuwegracht have been visited, reports of which have been drawn up on behalf of the municipality of Utrecht.
During the presentation, we will further explore the history, development and infrastructure of this special place in Utrecht, where there are areas that may still hold surprises for us today.
During the walk, we will also see the influence of contemporary use and the consequences this has for conservation and maintenance. Perhaps this will lead to a fascinating discussion during the closing drinks.
You are cordially invited.
Speaker(s)
ir. A de Prouw (director of construction consultancy De Prouw B.V.)
Location
Westerdijk Hall (to the right of the entrance)
Organiser
Utrecht region
Name and contact details for information
Jaap Vogelaar
