The neighbourhood between Zuilen and Utrecht city centre: bordered on the right by the Vecht and on the left by the railway towards Amsterdam.
This description already shows how varied the neighbourhoods are. You're in the centre in no time and you can enjoy bits of nature too. This part of Utrecht has undergone a huge transformation and is becoming more and more popular.
Wisselspoor: modern, industrial and green
Transformation
Let's start with the elephant in the room. For years, the Amsterdamsestraatweg and the area around it had a bad reputation and weren't known as a pleasant place to live. In recent years, however, this has changed enormously. The Municipality of Utrecht has worked with business owners and residents to tackle the neighbourhood north-west of Utrecht city centre.
Working together on a great neighbourhood
These days, the streetscape is brightened up by street art by artists including Jan is de Man. If you cycle from the centre to the Amsterdamsestraatweg, the artwork shown at the top of this blog is the first thing you see. There are several cycling and walking routes through the neighbourhood that take you past these artworks: highly recommended!
In addition, the municipality pays a lot of attention to renewing and maintaining parks and lawns in the neighbourhood. Residents are also involved in brightening up their street. On our street, the 1e Daalsedijk, for example, you see more and more bits of pavement making way for green flower beds. People on the street can decide for themselves what they want to see there, from green to red or deep purple.
What's more, more and more business owners have set up on and around the Amsterdamsestraatweg. Near the Plantage you'll find Winkel vol Winkeltjes and &meer. We often look there ourselves for a nice present or something nice for the home. A little further on, at the Amazing Oriental, you can buy the most unusual products. Want to try something new, or looking for a specific ingredient for a recipe? Then pop in here. Further still is Familie van Rijk, our favourite for Friday afternoon drinks: beer, wine and the tastiest bar snacks. But if you'd rather flop down somewhere where the food is taken care of for you, you can do that in this neighbourhood too. We like going to Brandstof for a tasty sandwich, or enjoy the sun on the terrace at Bagels & Beans during our lunch break. For dinner we only have to cross the street and treat ourselves at Ddadi, or we walk towards the Watertoren and treat ourselves at The Food Club. Every one of them a business owner with a heart for the neighbourhood.
Lindy at Familie van Rijk. What would you choose?
Residential area
Thanks to all the changes of recent years, this part of Utrecht has become a really pleasant neighbourhood to live in. You can no longer hear the bustle of the Amsterdamsestraatweg as soon as you turn into one of the side streets. There are lots of characterful houses with period details. Stained-glass windows, a fireplace in the living room, wooden beams in the bedroom or a hall with the original floor still in place. Almost all the houses here also have a garden, roof terrace or nice balcony. Exactly the type of home most first-time buyers in Utrecht are looking for. This makes for a nice mix of residents on a street: first-time buyers and young families together with old Utrechters, some of whom have lived there for more than 40 years. How do we know? It's our patch: our office is on the 1e Daalsedijk and Gé and Lindy live there too. Real experts by experience, then!
Although most houses aren't enormous, it's often still possible to create more living space. By building an extension at the back or adding an extra storey on the roof, you not only create more space for the family but also add value to the house. If that's a step too far, you can also take another look at the layout of your home. Want help with this? Wendy, our stylist, can take a fresh look at it and give the best advice for the new layout of your home.
Interior advice from Wendy – Gusto Casa
Getting around
The location of Pijlsweerd, the Tweede Daalsebuurt and Ondiep is ideal! Lots of shops are within walking distance, for the city centre you hop on your bike, and if you need to be outside Utrecht you can choose between the car and the train. Utrecht Centraal is at most 10 minutes away by bike, but you can also board at Station Zuilen (even closer). In the same time you're on the A2 by car and can head in any direction. Amsterdam is only half an hour away. Many people who work in Amsterdam look for a home in this part of Utrecht. On the one hand because it's so easy to get to, on the other because Utrecht simply feels cosier than the big capital.
Stationsplein Utrecht Centraal
Future
The Amsterdamsestraatweg and the surrounding neighbourhoods are far from fully developed. For example, the municipality has plans to redesign the Amsterdamsestraatweg. Cars will be allowed to drive at a maximum of 30 km/h, and speed bumps will keep that speed low. Crossing will also be made safer for pedestrians with the addition of zebra crossings.
There are also plans for the area between the Tweede Daalsebuurt and the railway. A new neighbourhood is coming: Wisselspoor, where homes, parks and community facilities will be built. There will also be a cycle tunnel connecting the 2e Daalsedijk with Lombok. Then you'll be at Utrecht's city beach, Soia, in 10 minutes by bike!
The new neighbourhood: Wisselspoor
Are you looking for a nice house in one of these neighbourhoods? Or are you curious how we can turn your house into a home? Then come and visit us at our office!
