Utrecht – J. van Druten, 1885

UTRECHT AT THE START OF 19TH-CENTURY URBAN EXPANSIONS

“Plattegrond der Gemeente Utrecht” (map of the municipality of Utrecht), lithograph “prepared under the supervision of the city architect-director of public works [C. Vermeys] in Utrecht”, published in 1885 by J. van Druten of the steam printing house De Industrie. Coloured by a later hand. Sheet size: 83 x 111 cm.

The urban expansions that began in Utrecht during the second half of the 19th century gave rise to the need for official maps such as this one. Until 1879, most maps primarily depicted the old city within the singels (defensive canals) and included little of the surrounding area. This map, by contrast, presents a much larger area, showing the still sparsely built-up outskirts – clearly in anticipation of the upcoming expansions.

On the left side, an inset shows the map within a wider regional context. Below it is a legend with symbols for railways, tramways, rivers, canals, parks, municipal boundaries, public buildings, private buildings, and undeveloped properties. Of particular interest are the railway lines radiating from the city toward Amsterdam, Rotterdam, ’s-Hertogenbosch, Zwolle, and Arnhem.

The list of streets, buildings, etc., in the upper left corner is arranged alphabetically and can be located on the map via a coordinate system.

Compared with the previous municipal map of Utrecht (from 1879), this one includes the projected Amsterdam–Merwede Canal (opened in 1892), expansion of houding development in the Oudwijk and Wittevrouwen neighbourhoods, near the start of the Vleutenseweg and Amsterdamse Straatweg, as well as changes to the layout of the Eastern Railway Station grounds, new landscaping patterns near the Academic Hospital, and the Roman Catholic cemetery at the end of Biltstraat (consecrated in 1875), and the cemetery along Koningsweg.

Not yet included on the map are the detention house on Koningsweg (1895), the municipal nurseries near Raadwijk, and Wilhelminapark, which was opened to the public in 1898.

Literature: “Kaarten van Utrecht” – Donkersloot de Vrij (1989), map no. 40.

Price: Euro 2.650,-