Binnenstad in Utrecht, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe

Het Vakwerkhuis / The Half-Timbered House

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 17, 2023

1. Het Vakwerkhuis / The Half-Timbered House Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Dit kleine huis paste nog net tussen de al bestaande stegen. Het is het enige in Utrecht nog herkenbare vakwerkhuis, zo genoemd omdat het door een houtconstructie gedragen wordt. De wandvulling tussen de balken was van hout of leem. of zoals hier, van steen. De meeste middeleeuwse huizen waren (gedeeltelijk) van hout. Wegens brandgevaar werden de houten muren en gevels op last van het stadsbestuur door stenen opvolgers vervangen. Dit versteningsproces duurde tot in de 18de eeuw. De voorgevel is ook uit die tijd.

(English translation:)

This small house just fits between the existing alleys. It is the only recognizable half-timbered house left in Utrecht, so called because of its construction with wooden beams. The wall filling between the beams was made of wood or clay, or as in this example, of stone. Most medieval houses were (partly) made of wood. Because wooden walls and facades were a fire hazard, the city government pressed for them to be replaced by stone structures. This “petrification” process lasted until the 18th century. The facade is also from that period.

Erected by

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The ANWB, VVV.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture.

Location. 52° 5.498′ N, 5° 7.022′ E. Marker is in Utrecht. It is in Binnenstad. Marker is at the intersection of Bakkerstraat and Oudegracht, on the right when traveling south on Bakkerstraat. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Oudegracht 133, Utrecht 3511 JM, Netherlands. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fresenburg (within shouting distance of this marker); Het Keijserrijk (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); Pieter Quint Ondaatje (about 150 meters away); Sociëteit De Vereeniging / “The Association” Society (about 180 meters away); Congresgebouw De Vereeniging / Congress Building of “De Vereeniging” (about 180 meters away); Vrede van Utrecht / Treaty of Utrecht (about 180 meters away); Mariakerk / St. Mary's Church (about 210 meters away); Gebouw Voor Kunst En Wetenschappen / Arts and Science Building (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Utrecht.

Also see . . . Oudegracht 133 te Utrecht (Documentatie.org).

Excerpt (in translation): An urban planner once exclaimed that it was a scandal that this small house had not yet been demolished. It didn't fit among all those
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 17, 2023

2. Hey Vakwerkhuis / The Half-Timbered House and Marker
taller buildings. It hurt his sense of urban planning. Fortunately, many people think differently about that.

For a long time, the 'corner-and-corner building' on the Oudegracht with both the Bakkerstraat and the Hamsteeg was considered 18th century based on the bell gable. During the thorough restoration in 1976, it turned out that here, in the heart of the center, is probably the only half-timbered house in Utrecht, possibly dating from the 14th century...

(Submitted on September 30, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 87 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 30, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.