Catharijnesingel in Utrecht: water has returned here after 40 years

·28 August 2026

For around 40 years, a wide road for cars ran along the site of the historic section of the Catharijnesingel moat in Utrecht. The water disappeared from this site in 1969, when work began on filling in the canal and constructing the Catharijnebaan – a major road intended to improve the city’s traffic flow. In 2020, Utrecht rectified this mistake, and today the section once again belongs to rowers, pedestrians, cyclists and green spaces. The redesign was drawn up by architects from the OKRA landschapsarchitecten practice.

Catharijnesingel predates the modern city

The history of the Catharijnesingel is linked to Utrecht’s city moat and defensive walls, the construction of which began in the 12th century. Over time, the fortification system lost its military significance, which is why, around 1830, a park designed by Jan David Zocher was created on the site of part of the former fortifications. The canal itself also served as a waterway for centuries. Until the end of the 19th century, it formed part of the Keulse Vaart – a route linking Amsterdam with Cologne. However, its importance declined following the opening of the Merwede Canal in 1892.

Map of Utrecht from 1649. Photo: Atlas van Loon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Asphalt instead of water

In the 20th century, Utrecht began to adapt its city centre for cars. In 1958, the German engineer Max Erich Feuchtinger presented a bold concept for a ring road that was to run around the old town. Its implementation would have resulted in the filling in of almost the entire historic moat. Ultimately, the project was not carried out in this form; however, in 1969 work began on the removal of a section known as the Catharijnesingel (St Catherine’s Moat), to make way for the construction of the Catharijnebaan (St Catherine’s Road). It was intended to be a wide thoroughfare for motor vehicles. Water then gave way to tarmac and concrete, and the historic centre was partially cut off from the element that had shaped its landscape and urban life for centuries. The road itself was about one kilometre long, but at its peak it formed part of a vast transport network with as many as 12 lanes.

Residents wanted the Catharijnesingel back

Although the removal of the canal improved traffic flow, it met with opposition from residents right from the start. The Dutch have lived close to the water since time immemorial and did not like this drastic change, through which they lost a significant part of their historical identity. In the late 1980s, plans emerged to redevelop the entire area around Utrecht Centraal station and rectify the mistakes made 20 years earlier. In 2001, the first works began, during which the northern section of the historic moat was restored. A year later, the residents of Utrecht voted in a referendum in favour of reopening the Catharijnesingel. From that moment on, the city gradually reversed the effects of the earlier redevelopment. In 2020, the canal regained its continuity and became navigable once more.

1.1 km of new waterway in Utrecht

The most important part of the major redevelopment was the restoration of approximately 1.1 kilometres of the canal where the former road once ran. During the works, around 35,000 tonnes of earth and nearly 17,000 tonnes of rubble were removed, and after the riverbed was cleared, around 40,000 cubic metres of water returned to the Catharijnesingel. Along with the canal, a large part of the public space was reclaimed, the neighbouring Zocherpark was expanded, and new pedestrian routes, green spaces and recreational areas were created. Trees planted along the banks included poplars, plane trees, ornamental cherry trees and elms. The choice of plants supports biodiversity, whilst the flowering trees provide food for insects. The total cost of the project amounted to over 100 million euros, but it was well worth it! After nearly 40 years, residents can once again take a boat trip around the historic centre.

Catharijnesingel by OKRA landschapsarchitecten

The impressive scale of this transformation was quickly recognised. In 2022, Catharijnesingel received the European Prize for Urban Public Space, selected from among 326 projects from 35 countries. In the same year, the design also won the Rietveldprijs, Utrecht’s most prestigious architectural award. The restoration of the canal has improved access to green spaces, created new recreational areas and increased the proportion of green and blue infrastructure in the city centre. The new Catharijnesingel, designed by OKRA landschapsarchitecten, is a perfect example of how even the biggest urban planning mistakes can be rectified. It’s never too late!