The Lantern Speaks: a Walk along the artistic Lampposts of Utrecht (Swiss Embassy in the Netherlands)

Are you wondering how to enjoy Art while museums are still closed because of Corona? The Swiss Embassy in the Netherlands has a great initiative for everyone: a walk around Utrecht following artistical lampposts along the canals of the city.

Now that the weather is getting a little warmer there is nothing better than enjoying a walk across a beautiful city. The inspiration comes from the book “De lantaarn spreekt” – “The lamppost speaks” – consisting of a guide with five walking routes and a sailing route along all the lantern consoles on the canals of Utrecht. Following an initiative of the Vereniging Oud-Utrecht, in 1949 a large-scale restoration of the Utrecht yards began, revitalising old gas lampposts through carved consoles. Typical Utreg stories and sagas, legends of pious saints and brave heroes, virtues and vices, proverbs, and the Utrecht guilds were given a place on the lanterns’ consoles. Within this artistical process, 192 of the 330 consoles were designed or manufactured by the Swiss sculptor Jeannot Bürgi during over twenty years of activity in the city.

Through the design of sculptors that worked and lived in Utrecht these trips along the water of the Dutch city show life in all its colorful facets, and a great intervention of renovation of public spaces.

Enjoy the art around Utrecht and the beautiful Spring weather!

The book “De lantaarn spreekt” can be purchased on the Webshop of Oud Utrecht.