Utrecht Saint Nicholas 5 December

This memorial stone you can find above the door of
Oudegracht 330.

I couldn't find the back ground information.

It shows Saint Nicholas who flies on a kind of cloud to save the sailors on the vessel.

It is not clear why, according to Dutch tradition, St. Nicholas comes from Spain.

Maybe it has to do with the fact that St. Nicholas was the patron of the seafares.

In the 17th century, Holland was known for its seafare (trade and colonies).

Maybe this tradition began by the contact with Spanish sailors.

This may also explain why Saint Nicholas is helped by Black Pete's
(the Moors dominated Spain for several hundreds of years)

Another, more popular, statement is that the Pete’s are black since they often enter chimneys and there is no time to wash their selves :).

Utrecht Nederlands Film Festival (Dutch Movie Festival)

Every year the Dutch Film Festival is held in Utrecht.

The opening and closing is mostly is the Stadschouwburg but the organization is hosted in the old building of De Winkel van Sinkel.

The building started after a long preparation in 1837 based on the design of architect Pieter Adams (1778-1846).

The most remarkable part of the design is the four big women statues in Greek robes.

Utrecht Stadsdag (2) City Day: The Two Documents

In 1122 the bishop
Godebald ruled the

city.(read the nice

backgrounds

in the to be enlarged

AD article)

He wanted to reclaim (ontginnen) the peat (veengronden) in the Kromme Rijn area.
He also wanted to build a dam in the Kromme Rijn near Wijk bij Duurstede.
This would mean that the city wasn’t easy to reach for ships anymore, so also a canal had to be duged (Vaartse Rijn).

It is clear that it would cost a lot of money to the furious citizens of Utrecht.

In 1122 the Emperor Hendrik V resided at that time at his Palace Lofen (on the Dom Square now) and it is possible that he wanted to mediate between the citizens and the bishop.

However, short after Whitsuntide the servants of the bishop attacked the courtiers (hovelingen) of the emperor. The Utrecht citizens helped the emperor and the bishop was arrested.

Imagine what a lot of people were involved on that small area.

Godebald was forced by Hendrik V to renunciation and to grant city rights to the city.

There are two documents parchments (perkament) on sheep skin. The first one (45x65 cm) contains the rights.
The second one (46x80 cm) contains details about the charge of toll.

Both were signed at Palace Lofen on Sunday 2 June 1122 and signed by the seal of the emperor.

On the right side of the close up of the document you can read (after enlarging) the name of Godebald, 3rd sentence from below.

Utrecht Stadsdag (1) City Day: The 1st Anniversary

Today is the first anniversary of the Stadsdag, the birth-day of the city of Utrecht, for on June 2, 1122 the city received City rights. Today the city is 887 years old.

The tradition is that on a birthday "beschuit met muisjes" (biscuit with sucred aniseed in a form that could be a micro mouse) is eaten.

For boys the colour is blue and white, for girls the colour is pink and white and for Utrecht the colour is red and white, for these colours are the colours of the flag of city.

Also the flags on the Dom Tower and the flag in front of the Town Hall waved their red-white colours for this special occasion.

This year the celebration is a bit sober for it was hardly a month ago, on 7 May, that the Utrecht Party Leefbaar Utrecht presented a motion to celebrate this day.

But nevertheless compliments to the Catharijne Convent (museum) and the Utrechtse Archief which quickly organized this day.

Utrecht 4 May Commemoration Day (2)

.
Poem of Ingmar Heytze recited by himself
(november 2001)




OPGEGROEID IN GROOTSE VRIJHEID

Opgegroeid in grootse vrijheid
die niet zelf bevochten werd,
onnozel, vanzelfsprekend,
alsof nooit een volk werd uitgeroeid-
zo dom mag deze dag niet zijn.

Er staat een vleugel op een plein
met nagelhouten toetsen
onder lijkdoek, wit en bruin.
De stilte hamert een refrein.
Zo stil mag deze dag niet zijn.

Zittend voor een sprekend venster
kijken hoe de wereld brandt,
wolkenkrabbers en woestijnen
als katernen in een krant-
zwarter kon een dag niet zijn.

Wie neemt geen genoegen
met een wereld die wordt uitgeveegd?
Wie gelooft door alles heen
in liefde die een antwoord geeft,

alsof tussen verre sterren
iemand onze aarde ziet
en zich niet afwendt van haar pijn
maar zegt dat we vergeven zijn?

Met of zonder kracht van boven,
wars van oorlog en gemis,
dwars door alles heen geloven
in liefde die een antwoord is.

Utrecht 4 May Commemoration Day (1)

Every five years the National Committee 4 and 5 May determines a theme.

For 2006-2010 the theme is: “Freedom you make together”.

In 2009 the sub-theme is: “Freedom and identity”.

The background is, that thoughts about your identity, can affect the freedom of someone else as well in your private life as nation wide.

Not only the war victims of the World War II are commemorated but also the war victims who died in the whole Royal Kingdom, or wherever in the world, from the break out of WWII in war situations or peace missions.

Mr. Thomas Dres - chairman of the "Foundation 4 May Commemoration Prinsesselaan Utrecht" from the eighties on -, took this theme up in his speech, at the beginning of the commemoration of the 50 Utrecht victims of World War II, at the "Field on Honour" Prinsesselaan at the R.K. Cementary St Barbara.

Among the guests, merely relatives of the victims, was among others also the Mayor of Utrecht, Aleid Wolfsen, the alderman Harry Bosch, and last but certainly not least, the former Bishop of Rotterdam (1983 -13.3.1993), Mgr. Philppe Bär.

A grand daughter of one of the war victims told a story about her grandfather H. de Mari.

After that a wreath was layed on behalf of the local government by the mayor and the alderman.
One wreath was layed on behalf of the “Foundation 4 May" and further flowers from other present people concerned.

After "The Last Post" the city poet Ingmar Heytze read a poem with reference to the war.

Utrecht Queen's Day (3) The Disaster

Already eight hours after the festive start of the festivities the mayor was interviewed by the local television.

The mood on this afternoon was quite different than the mood on this morning.

The interview was held in connection with the tragdy in Apeldoorn where the Queen celebrated her birthday.

A man tried to attack the open coach with the Royal Family. Seven people were killed and 10 injured. The day ended in a drama.

Utrecht Queen's Day (2) Town Hall

As in many cities and villages, also in Utrecht the celebrations of Queen's Day take place.

In Utrecht at 09:00 the mayor, now Aleid Wolfsen, enters with a small group of (V)IP’s into the town hall.

At 09:30 the chairman of the Society Queeen’s Day Utrecht (vereniging Koninginnedag Utrecht) Mr. Thomas Dres starts the aubade with a small speech especially for the many children who came by bicycle, walking or…. by one of the three sightseeing boats.

Then the major speeches and hoist the flag together with the chairman of UOC, Mr. Floris De Gelder, chairman of the Utrecht Oranje Association.

All the children have received an, of course orange, balloon and after a common count down the children let the balloons go in the hope that they will arrive in a far country.

There are always balloons that don''t come further than the first tree in front of the town hall.

After these ceremonies all present people are invited into the town hall for a toast to the Queen with an ”Oranjebitter” (orange liqueur) or orange juice.

On the picture mayor Aleid Wolfsen together with Gilbert Isabella, chairman of the Utrecht PvdA (socialist) fraction, with an Oranjebitter.

It’s always a very informal and enjoyable gathering.

Utrecht Queen's Day (1)

Today is Queens Day, the day that Queen Beatrix is celebrating her birthday.

It is not really her birthday for that event is on January 31.

Her passed mother Juliana however had on this day her real birthday and it was celebrated all over the country.

When Beatrix became a queen she ordered to keep April 30 as the official Queens Day in honour of her mother.

In practice the knowledge that the weather in April is more comfortable is a not unratable factor.

The shop Catch has decorated the window shop in the atmosphere of Queens Day with the in 1995 official portrait of queen Beatrix made by Carla Rodenberg.

Utrecht Vrijmarkt - Free Market

On April 29 at 18:00, the evening before Queeen’s Day starts with a “Vrijmarkt” (Free Market).

It is a free market because the non-professional inhabitants don't need a permit.

It’s a market in the north part of the centre between the canels and “singel”.

Adults sell all kind of furnishings and children used toys.

But children also show their talents in making music, dancing, funny games.

Most of the people wear clothes which are entirely or partly coloured orange for the family name of the Royal Family is called “van Oranje”.

It started in 1982 and was a local neighbourhood party.

Now it is a national well known event that attracks people from all cities in the environment of Utrecht.

Since it needs a good cooperation with police, fire brigade, etc. the organisation is taken over by the the local government.

On the 3rd picture is Elisee from Ruanda playing the National Hymne "Wilhelmus" on her saxophone.

About 400 police(wo)men leaded 300.00 visitors in good channels.