Introduction to Utrecht
Utrecht is the fourth largest city located in the center of the Netherlands with a population of around 330,000 inhabitants. The city has an ancient city center at its heart dating back to the 8th century. Utrecht functions as an important transport hub for all rail and road transportation. The city has the second highest number of cultural events in the Netherlands, after Amsterdam. The urban area is surrounded by a moat and still has parts of its fortified city construction. The city has an active cultural scene with several theatres and cinemas. Art museums keep the culture of Utrecht alive along with a number of festivals throughout the year. The city features many original landmarks of modern architecture, including the Rietveld Schroder House.
Utrecht Skyline
Utrechtse kabouter
The Utrechtse kabouter or KBTR is a graffiti character that appears mostly in the city of Utrecht. Although street art is illegal in Utrecht, an iconic picture started appearing in the streets of Utrecht in 2004. One can find characters along city walls and right next to train tracks. The gnome is drawn with a red top hat. The figure displays noticeable teeth along with an angry expression. His beard has four different points, and the body contains short legs, small toes. Variations exist of the figure as a devil, a pig, a skeleton or robot. The paintings tend to contain surrealistic elements.
