Oudegracht with wharfs

Utrecht's Oudegracht and its wharves are unique in the world. An ingenious system devised in the Middle Ages, they give Utrecht its special, and cosy, character today.

History of the Oudegracht
When Utrecht received city rights and a defence wall in 1122, the construction of a navigation route right through the city was also started: the Oudegracht. By connecting with the Vecht (north) and the Vaartsche Rijn (south), Oudegracht started to function as an elongated harbour. During digging, the released soil was thrown onto the banks, raising the street a lot higher than the canal.

Yards
By making clever use of the difference in height between the canal water and the higher street, Utrecht merchants in the Middle Ages developed an ingenious harbour system. The lower mooring quays were directly connected to the storage cellars of the canal houses through tunnels under the street. Merchandise could easily be dragged to the houses this way.

From wine to sheets, and from vegetables and grain to livestock: everything was traded and stored here. At the beginning of the 20th century, shipping within Utrecht was significantly curtailed, and activity on the water disappeared. Yet today, cafés and restaurants along the canal are still supplied in the old way.

Lively Oudegracht
Still, the Oudegracht is Utrecht's bustling hub. Along the water, you will find countless cosy restaurants and catering establishments. The ground floors of city castles and stately canal houses have been transformed into trendy catering concepts, cosy bars and restaurants with an international menu. You can dine on the waterfront in summer, and in winter the historic wharf cellars are an atmospheric place for a bite to eat and a drink.