Utrecht

In Utrecht, you can admire the art of the Utrecht masters of the 17th century in the Centraal Museum. But the works of art have also been brought to Utrecht's districts. In cooperation with Centraal Museum Utrecht, artist collective De Strakke Hand transformed several walls in the city into immense paintings. This cycle route takes you past the impressive murals that transform Utrecht into an open-air museum.

Abraham Bloemaert's The Flute Player (1621), for example, looks out over the city from an eleven-storey high flat. Besides the Flute Player, you will also come across a Lute Player (1622) by the Utrecht caravaggist Dirck van Baburen. On Pieter Saenredamstraat, it seems as if you can step straight into the Sint-Catharina church, but nothing is what it seems. Artist Pieter Saenredam painted the inside of the church between 1655 and 1660; the work you see before you on this wall is life-size. The only painting that is not by a 17th century artist, but is by a Utrecht master, is the mural by Pyke Koch. He painted the portrait of his wife in 1940.

Cycle through the city and immerse yourself in the art of Utrecht masters. In the Centraal Museum, you can admire the original works and many more beautiful works of art. Start or finish your bike tour at the museum and relax on the terrace of the Museumcafé.

Photography murals: Robert Oosterbroek