Storm at the square

Local Utrecht creators will be selling their work! Come treasure hunting at the market on Domplein and discover the wonderful things being made right here in our city.

1 August 1674 was the day a great storm caused the nave of Dom Church to collapse. To mark the occasion, Malgosia Fiebig will perform a specially curated repertoire featuring “Summer” from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, “Stormy Weather” by Billie Holiday and “Riders on the Storm” by The Doors.

11:00 – 12:00

The greatest treasures of Dom Church were not money, but its precious handwritten books! Some of these treasures have survived and are now preserved in Utrecht University Library. They are many centuries old!

For one day only, the treasure chest will be opened… Discover its hidden locks and ingenious interior, and find out what was once kept inside!

On 1 August at 8.15 pm, a unique lie-down concert will take place in the magnificent Dom Church. Jan Hage, one of the Netherlands’ most virtuoso organists, will perform on the majestic Bätz organ. The theme of the concert is The Storm Has Passed. Bring your yoga mat or air mattress, lie back and enjoy this special evening of music. Afterwards, there will be a nightcap.

Centuries ago, skilled craftspeople built enormous structures such as Dom Church and its tower. Even today, it is astonishing to think about how they managed to do this! These historic buildings do, however, need regular maintenance and restoration. Sometimes this involves major work, such as laying a new slate roof, and sometimes smaller projects, such as restoring a wooden or stone sculpture.

On 1 August, you are warmly invited to try your hand at building, laying slate, carving natural stone and much more, under the guidance of enthusiastic craftspeople who are eager to introduce you to these traditional skills and let you experience them for yourself!

Will you join the Domplein game?

Join the wheelbarrow tour and discover what the coloured stones on Domplein actually represent. Use old and modern maps to piece together the history of the square with your guide.

This is as close to the storm as you can get. Step into the container on Domplein and experience the ’terrifying tempest’ like you were there in 1674.

Countless stories lie hidden beneath Domplein. The DOMunder excavations have uncovered remarkable finds, from hoards of coins to remains dating from Roman times and the Middle Ages, as well as traces of the storm that caused the nave to collapse. On 1 August, you can step into the shoes of an archaeologist. What will you dig up?

At 3.30 pm, Peter van der Zwaag will give an organ concert in Dom Church. Admission is free, with a collection at the exit.