Located near the very center of the Netherlands, Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the country. Functioning as the most important city in the Netherlands for centuries, the city has an incredible history that is celebrated with large structures and monuments. However, various landmarks of incredible significance can be found across the city.
Jan van Nassau played a key role in the foundation of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands which precedes the current Dutch state. A statue that depicts him as the initiator of the Union of Utrecht dominates the Dom Cathedral Square, also known as the Domplein. Unveiled in 1883, he holds a sheet of paper in his left hand which represents the Union of Utrecht, which he drew up in 1579 in the chapter house of the Dom Church behind it. His other hand rests on his weapon.
The very first statue of Anne Frank in the world was placed in Utrecht on Janskerkhof square in 1960. Children collected old iron and paper to pay for the statue, which shows her with two feet on the ground and with her head in the clouds. It has cultivated connection across the eras, as flowers are placed at the statue all year round.
Thinker on a Rock is a bronze sculpture by Barry Flanagan that is one of several located in cities across the world. The piece is designed to reference multiple art historical traditions and serves as an especially modern piece that showcases the ‘gestural’ qualities bronze sculptures can possess.
The first Bishop of Utrecht, Saint Willibrord was a famous Dutch missionary and saint, known as the “Apostle to the Frisians” in the Netherlands. An equestrian statue of Saint Willibrord was created in 1947 and resides near Janskerk (Jan’s Church). The piece depicts him on a horse holding a model of a church.
Mentioned as one of the hidden gems of the world, Utrecht has further developed this reputation on account of the many obscure and outstanding monuments that define the current landscape. Doing so has created many opportunities for individuals and Utrecht itself that are being realized in countless ways.
