Winkel van Sinkel Store, Utrecht
Set among the numerous medieval houses along the Oudegracht canal is the Winkel van Sinkel building. It was originally built as a store, between 1837 and 1839, after Anton Sinkel, the owner, moved his business from Amsterdam to Utrecht.
The store was opened on May 6, 1839. Although it was primarily a drapery store without self-service, it is considered to be the first department store in the Netherlands. At some point, Winkel van Sinkel even became a general term for shops where everything was for sale.
The Rotterdam architect, Pieter Adams, designed the building in a late-Baroque style. The idea to decorate it with caryatids (sculpted female figure-columns) belongs to Sinkel. The four cast-iron statues were made in England and thence mockingly referred to as the 鈥淏ritish whores鈥�.
During their transportation, which happened to be by a barge, an accident happened. While lifting one of the statues, the upper part of the crane at the wharf broke off and fell into the water, along with the load. To this day, the site where the crane stood, in front of the building, is still marked.
The story does not tell, however, how the heavy statue finally got out of the water. In addition to the caryatids, another four cast-iron figures 鈥� symbolizing Commerce, Prudence, Seafaring, and Hope 鈥� have been placed on the fa莽ade as well.
The Sinkel company sold the property in 1898 and ceased to exist in 1912.
Today, the building is known as "Cultural Culinary Department Store". In addition to its function as a grand caf茅-restaurant, it hosts evening dance club on weekends, with a tango matinee every second Sunday of the month, and a salsa party on all other Sundays. Other cultural activities also regularly take place, including the so-called Cultural Sundays.
The store was opened on May 6, 1839. Although it was primarily a drapery store without self-service, it is considered to be the first department store in the Netherlands. At some point, Winkel van Sinkel even became a general term for shops where everything was for sale.
The Rotterdam architect, Pieter Adams, designed the building in a late-Baroque style. The idea to decorate it with caryatids (sculpted female figure-columns) belongs to Sinkel. The four cast-iron statues were made in England and thence mockingly referred to as the 鈥淏ritish whores鈥�.
During their transportation, which happened to be by a barge, an accident happened. While lifting one of the statues, the upper part of the crane at the wharf broke off and fell into the water, along with the load. To this day, the site where the crane stood, in front of the building, is still marked.
The story does not tell, however, how the heavy statue finally got out of the water. In addition to the caryatids, another four cast-iron figures 鈥� symbolizing Commerce, Prudence, Seafaring, and Hope 鈥� have been placed on the fa莽ade as well.
The Sinkel company sold the property in 1898 and ceased to exist in 1912.
Today, the building is known as "Cultural Culinary Department Store". In addition to its function as a grand caf茅-restaurant, it hosts evening dance club on weekends, with a tango matinee every second Sunday of the month, and a salsa party on all other Sundays. Other cultural activities also regularly take place, including the so-called Cultural Sundays.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
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Winkel van Sinkel Store on Map
Sight Name: Winkel van Sinkel Store
Sight Location: Utrecht, Netherlands (See walking tours in Utrecht)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Utrecht, Netherlands (See walking tours in Utrecht)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Utrecht, Netherlands
Create Your Own Walk in Utrecht
Creating your own self-guided walk in Utrecht is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Utrecht's Historical Buildings Walking Tour
Originally founded by the Romans, and once the most important city in the Netherlands, Utrecht boasts a generous share of historically significant structures. The collection of its architectural masterpieces, one of the richest in the country, dates back to the early Middle Ages.
The amazingly well-preserved pieces of historic architecture in Utrecht showcase the trends and movements throughout... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
The amazingly well-preserved pieces of historic architecture in Utrecht showcase the trends and movements throughout... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Utrecht Introduction Walking Tour
The earliest settlers to the area now called Utrecht likely arrived millennia ago during the Stone Age. While there are also signs of inhabitation during the Bronze Age, scholars today credit the Romans with building what became the town.
They set up a castellum around the year 50 AD, a fort right at a crossing point on the river Rhine. The fortress marked Rome's northernmost point in... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
They set up a castellum around the year 50 AD, a fort right at a crossing point on the river Rhine. The fortress marked Rome's northernmost point in... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles