Utrecht recently won the Dutch award for innovative city marketing thanks to the Utrecht Hospitality (Gastvrij Utrecht) project initiated by Toerisme Utrecht. They won for their “significant contribution to the social and economic vitality of the city.”
The emphasis on drawing tourists to the city has manifest itself in not one but two shops selling souvenirs. There’s the “big” one right on the Oudegracht, just around the corner from the Domtoren (and right next to a “coffee shop”), where you can find all sorts of specifically Utrecht and generally Dutch souvenirs to take home with you. (It’s the shop on the right)
But now there’s also the corner news/tobacco/lottery ticket shop on Nobelstraat that has recently added a few classic souvenirs, as well. We’ve obviously hit the big time.
This post brought to you with gentle, tongue-in-cheek snark.
Does the city expect a mad rush for kitchy trinkets with de Dom on it? 🙂
Why not? 😉 Actually, there’s a hostel not far from the second shop that recently added “souvenirs”, so maybe they were responding to demand.
Technically isn’t Utrecht advertising for Delft since it looks like they are mostly selling Delft Blue souvenirs.
There are a few Domtoren items for sale. At least it’s not all marijuana souvenirs. 😉