Elinkwijk is a hidden gem in Utrecht. A neighbourhood not many people know. All the perks of the city, but none of the drawbacks. People often think Elinkwijk is the same as Zuilen. But the character of Elinkwijk is very different. People often ask me where I live myself and which neighbourhood in Utrecht I think is really beautiful. Most people expect me to name the Wilhelminapark, Wittevrouwen or Oudwijk. Of course I think those neighbourhoods are gorgeous too. Just like Tuindorp or Oog in Al! Fantastic! But the funny thing is that most people don't think of Elinkwijk. Whereas Elinkwijk is really very high on my wish list. The little neighbourhood has a village feel, big houses and beautiful architecture.
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A village in the city
I'm sure I don't need to tell you any more that I'm from the countryside. You can hear it straight away. That soft G is unmistakable. With Gé, too, you can tell immediately that he's from Limburg. I often let my fondness for a bit of space and a garden shine through as well. But since corona, even more people have joined me in really appreciating a bit of greenery and space. A good garden, rear access, a spacious living room and places to work from home are in huge demand. In Elinkwijk you'll still find plenty of that. It's close to Amsterdam. You can easily cycle along the Vecht or round the Loosdrechtse Plassen lakes, but you're also in the city centre in no time. We've written before that Elinkwijk is a lovely neighbourhood. Even INDEBUURT wrote an article about it.
Elinkwijk
Elinkwijk is a garden suburb built between 1915 and 1927. The neighbourhood was built for the senior staff of the metal industry companies Demka & Werkspoor. The land could be acquired at a favourable price from the landowner W.H.A. Elink Schuurman. The condition, however, was that it had to become a ‘garden suburb’. For “Elinkwijk”, architect Karel Muller translated the underlying principles of Ebenezer Howard's English concept. The curved street pattern is spaciously laid out and designed with attention to the right sightlines. It consists mainly of handsome family homes. Elinkwijk was built for staff of ‘Werkspoor from Amsterdam’ and the ‘Demka factory from Groningen’. In the middle of the neighbourhood there's a central little square, the Werkspoorplein. Most roads run north–south and the houses are positioned so that the living room is on the sunny side. The main roads are 12 metres wide and the other roads 10 metres. That's nice and wide, so you're not looking straight into the neighbours' homes. Most houses in Elinkwijk are family homes. There are also detached (and semi-detached) buildings here and there, which were intended for supervisors and employees in similar senior roles. In this neighbourhood you'll find lots of little squares and playgrounds, but above all big gardens. Most homes have a front and back garden. Only where it was architecturally less attractive did they leave out the front garden. The back gardens were intended for growing vegetables, fruit and herbs.
Elinkwijk Utrecht
Varied buildings
We ourselves come from a village. Doornenburg and Hegelsom; nobody knows them. But everyone knows each other in these villages. These villages just had no facilities at all. When I used to have to explain where I lived, it was on the Duisterestraat. After the second bend, the house with the shutters, two driveways, the Hendriks building firm used to be there. Oh, there, next to the two ‘new houses’. Or next to so-and-so… In Elinkwijk the houses are special. So here too people have landmarks. The architecture is special. The buildings are characterful. But all the facilities are around the corner.
A hidden gem
How lovely is it to let your children grow up in such a sheltered village? Yet you have all the facilities around the corner, and by car or train you're in Amsterdam in 30 minutes. Do you have a little boat on the Loosdrechtse Plassen? Then you're there in no time by bike or car. This is such a lovely neighbourhood. It's very green, yet all the facilities are close by. All the perks of the city, but none of the drawbacks.
Living in Elinkwijk
Would you like to live in Elinkwijk? Then keep an eye on our listings. Would you like to sell your home? Then we'd be happy to come round to discuss the best strategy. Want to live in Elinkwijk? We'll help you find a lovely home.
