European Cliché

The Spring Performing Arts Festival is taking place this week, with events of all sorts happening throughout the city. Some are big productions, while others are relatively simple installations that can be seen in passing.

On the Stadhuisbrug, there is a large silver box that is opened in the afternoons around 3 p.m. This particular piece is titled, “Ceci n’est pas …“, a reference to the Magritte painting, The Treachery of Images. This “Pandora’s Box” has a different theme each day. As the metal shutters are rolled up each day, they reveal a new person or people in various positions and settings. Each is making a statement — or at least trying to make people think — about some topic, be it gender, race, history, etc.

Thanks to Twitter, I saw that today the silver box contains a naked woman. (Nothing much really shows in the photo, for what it’s worth.) I have no idea what the theme is today, although the possibilities are numerous, I suppose. Still, from an American perspective, it’s such a “European” thing to have a naked woman as part of an art installation seated outside the City Hall building in the heart of the city. It’s become a bit of a cliché. Although these days, I suppose you might see a few in New York City, where it turns out it’s not illegal to go topless, whether you’re a man or a woman.

Making Peace Photo Exhibition

Although the 300th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht was in April, the celebrations continue. Recently, an outdoor photo exhibition was installed along the pathways of the Maliebaan. Titled “Making Peace”, it is an exhibit that shows the horrors of war, but gives hope through also focusing on the people and organizations that work to end war and promote peace.

The international exhibition was first put on display along the shores of Lake Geneva in 2010, organized by the International Peace Bureau to celebrate their 100th anniversary of winning the Nobel Peace Prize. The exhibit includes photos from around the world, from some of the great photojournalists. A comment/explanation for each photo is provided in English and Dutch. Many of the photos are moving and thought-provoking. Some break your heart, while others provide a glimmer of hope.

The Maliebaan is an historic avenue in Utrecht and now one of the most expensive streets in the city. Located just outside the old city center, it was opened in 1637 and features multiple lanes, separated by tunnels of trees. Some lanes are for vehicles, others for bicycles and pedestrians. In fact, the very first bicycle path built in the Netherlands was along the Maliebaan. The street has seen its own share of war and peace over the centuries, particularly during World War II, when the occupying Nazis had offices in the street. But it seems there were also resistance groups along the street, as well.

These pathways are a perfect setting for the photo exhibition. The street is relatively peaceful and allows time for contemplation of the numerous photos. The exhibit runs until 28 July and is definitely worth a visit.

Wordless Wednesday: Always the Domtoren

Pleasant Bicycle Parking

Sunday was a magical day, as the sun returned for a brief visit, and when I saw the sign in the photo, I suddenly started to feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland. We had been out for a walk along the canals, enjoying the sunshine and scenery. On the way back, we passed the Stadsschouwburg, the city theater, which has its front lawn decorated with stages, tables, and more as part of the new cultural Spring Performing Arts Festival. Not surprisingly, they also had a specially dedicated space for bicycle parking.

When we saw the sign (I am a pleasant bicycle parking. Please use me.), we couldn’t help but do a double-take and then burst into laughter. Sure, it could just be an error in translation, but I suspect it’s meant to be intentionally funny and welcoming. Regardless, how can you get upset with something so pleasant.

An added bonus is that it also reminds me of the Polite Dance Song, by The Bird & The Bee:

The Genteel Beauty of Lievendaal

There’s a charming villa on the eastern edge of town near Lepelenburg Park. It’s called Lievendaal and was built in 1862. I’ve been meaning to write about it for ages, or at least, I’ve been meaning to do the research on the building, since I’ve been taking photos of it for years. This first photo was taken in 2011, but it was a set of photos I took a couple of weeks ago that finally reminded me to look up the details on the building.

One of the reasons I’ve always noticed the villa is because of the gorgeous magnolia tree out front, which was in beautiful bloom at the beginning of May. Along with the circular porch and some of the other trees in and around the property, it often reminds me of the southern part of the US I know so well.

The house is located on a slight hill that was part of the remnants of the old city walls. It’s located between Lepelenburg Park and Zocher Park. The Lepelenburg Park stands where a stronghold of the same name once stood. There were various of these strongholds around the city.

Someone named G. Reede (I need to search to find out more about this person) is the one who commissioned the building in 1862. It was built in the Eclectic style, and though I can’t find a specific architect, it does seem that Jan David Zocher, who designed the extensive Zocher Park, played some role in the villa’s design.

Although I don’t know anything about Reede, I do know a bit about a later resident of Lievendaal. From 1958-1962, Irene van Lippe-Biesterfeld lived there while she was attending Utrecht University. Certainly much fancier than any of the places I lived during my university days! Of course, housing like that is probably fairly standard when your mother is the queen. Irene was the second daughter of Queen Juliana and the younger sister of Beatrix, who recently abdicated the throne for her son. It’s worth reading the Wiki page about her for some of the story on how she came to give up all rights to succession.

I don’t know who owns the villa now, but it remains a beautiful part of the landscape for which it was designed. There were some renovations and additions in the early 1900s, but they seem to have been tastefully done. Best of all, as I mentioned, is the wonderful magnolia tree. During its recent bloom, with the beautiful blue sky behind it, it reminded me of one of my favourite Van Gogh paintings, the almond blossom series.

Nijntje and Miffy

The weather is still cold and grey, although the rain has held off for most of the day. Small blessings. However, I did notice this colourful window near the Stadhuis this afternoon, featuring Nijntje (AKA Miffy), the little rabbit created by Utrechter Dick Bruna. The weather may not be smile-inducing, but this window display above a children’s book/toy store certainly was.

Amsterdamned and Utrecht Blessed

At various points over the years, I’ve seen and heard references to the film Amsterdamned, a 1988 Dutch horror film focused on the canals of Amsterdam. The reason why I’ve heard about the film is because of a famous boat chase. Two speed boats — one with the masked killer and the other with the investigating police officer — race through the city’s many canals, doing their best to avoid numerous obstacles. At one point, a tour boat is blocking the whole canal and the boats veer onto the wharf in order to avoid the tour boat, scattering people sitting at tables next to the canal.

*sound of record scratching*

Wait a minute! Amsterdam canals don’t have those kind of wharves! Although the boat chase does go on for quite a while, it doesn’t go on long enough for them to have suddenly appeared in Utrecht’s Oudegracht! Yet that’s exactly where they are! Then, just a few moments later, they’re back in Amsterdam.

You see, the Oudegracht and Nieuwegracht canals here in Utrecht, with their water-side wharves below the regular street level, are pretty much unique to Utrecht. Amsterdam has nothing like them, despite the many canals. In order to create an eye-catching stunt for the boat race, they decided to make use of Utrecht’s canal, location be damned!

This is why I’ve come to know of this film. This 30-second location blip is fairly well-known to Utrechters. Despite knowing about it, I had yet to see the film or even the boat race, until yesterday. I came across a video about the filming of the stunt in Utrecht, and then finally found a video of the boat race itself. You can see it for yourself. Utrecht shows up at about the 5:30 mark and is gone again by about the 6 minute mark, so keep your eyes open!

Wordless Wednesday: Utrecht in the Sun

The Ghost of Spring

We had about a week of good weather — sunshine, trees and flowers in full bloom, warmer temperatures — and then on Saturday we went back to cold, wet weather. I hope that wasn’t the extent of our spring/summer! At least I’ve got my photos to keep me warm. Here are a few of the canals around town looking inviting during the all-too-brief golden spell.

Beer and Bravery

For some people, alcohol takes away their inhibitions, not to mention their sense of self preservation. To look at some cats, you’d think they were raging alcoholics, doing whatever they want, when they want, and going wherever they want. I spotted this gorgeous Siamese cat enjoying the view from a sign for a local brewery — De Leckere — that hangs outside Pret à Porter, a restaurant on Domstraat. Seeing stuff like this makes you understand how the phrase “curiosity killed the cat” could come about. Or maybe I’m just jealous, because I don’t like heights. I also want to call this cat Claude, per the motto on the sign.

For another perspective, here’s a photo of the restaurant and the sign on which the cat was perched. (And FYI, there’s a beer brewer’s festival tomorrow at Molen de Ster and De Leckere will be there. Details in the Events Calendar.)