Winkel van Sinkel

The Winkel van Sinkel stands on the Oudegracht, the old canal that runs through the centre of Utrecht, and it is one of the best-known buildings on that waterway. It was built in the late 1830s for a merchant, Anton Sinkel, and it is generally regarded as the first department store in the Netherlands. The idea was new at the time. Instead of a small shop with one trade, Sinkel wanted to sell a wide range of goods, cloth, furniture, household items and luxuries, under a single roof, in a large, elegant building that would attract customers from the wealthy classes. The venture was a bold one, and the building he commissioned is as grand as the idea.

The architecture is in the neoclassical style, with a long facade facing the canal, tall windows, and an entrance lined with columns, and it has a particular feature that has made it famous, a row of cast-iron figures of women that support the upper storey like columns, known as caryatids. The use of cast iron, a modern material in the 1830s, for such decoration was fashionable and showed the owner's wish to impress. The long facade is reflected in the water of the canal, and it stands out among the older brick houses of the Oudegracht. Inside, a large central hall was lit from above, and goods were displayed on several levels.

The store did not last for ever. Retail changed, and the business closed in the early twentieth century, after which the building was used for other purposes, including offices and later as a cultural space. After a restoration, it was reopened in recent decades as a cafe, restaurant and venue, describing itself as a cultural and culinary department store. Today people come to eat, drink and enjoy events in a historic setting, and it is a popular meeting place for locals as well as visitors. The programme includes music, dancing and cultural events, such as afternoon sessions and evening gatherings, and the building retains much of its grand character.

Opening hours are long, from the morning until late at night, with extended hours on some evenings, and entry to the building is free for those who want to look or to eat. The canal-side terrace is pleasant on a sunny day, and the position on the Oudegracht, among the wharf cellars and bridges, is a pleasure in itself. The Dom Tower and the Cathedral Square are a short walk away.

The building suits architecture lovers, those interested in the history of shopping and anyone looking for a coffee or a drink with a view. A visit takes half an hour to an hour.