For a long time, until the 19th century, this former defensive moat around the city had very limited land crossing via a small number of city gates. The defences around the city also included dozens of rampart towers. One of the most imposing of these was the Smeetoren, which stood on the site of this bridge from the Middle Ages until around 1855. Around that year, the defences were largely demolished and new connections across the moat to the sprouting suburbs in the rapidly expanding city gradually emerged.
Around 1900, there was a ferry barge at the location of today's Bartholomew's Bridge. In 1902, the Bartholomew's Bridge was finally opened next to the Bartholomew Hospital. By the mid-20th century, the Bartholomew Bridge was in very poor condition. In 1952, a renovated Bartholomeus bridge was opened in the form of a bascule bridge constructed in stone and iron/steel to the design of G. van der Gaast. The Krimpen company Hollandia was involved in the construction.
You can see here the reflection of the trees along Catherijnesingel in the water. With skimming light from a winter afternoon sun, this image has almost a spring-like appearance. For people who love the history and waters of Utrecht, this is a great photo.
                                
 
                                Photographer living in Utrecht and trained as a historian, he shares his passion for monuments, his atmospheric city and what else he encounters during his photographic wanderings in perhaps the most beautiful city in the Netherlands... Read more…
 
                         Children Playing - Catherijnesingel - UtrechtCoen Koppen
Children Playing - Catherijnesingel - UtrechtCoen Koppen Oudegracht Utrecht - Cyclist in afternoon sun on GeertebrugCoen Koppen
Oudegracht Utrecht - Cyclist in afternoon sun on GeertebrugCoen Koppen Utrecht Leidsche Rijn Bus Station 3 - Modern ArchitectureCoen Koppen
Utrecht Leidsche Rijn Bus Station 3 - Modern ArchitectureCoen Koppen Waterlilies - Zwarte Water canal - UtrechtCoen Koppen
Waterlilies - Zwarte Water canal - UtrechtCoen Koppen Het Zwarte Water - Lauwerecht - UtrechtCoen Koppen
Het Zwarte Water - Lauwerecht - UtrechtCoen Koppen Griftpark during blue hour - UtrechtCoen Koppen
Griftpark during blue hour - UtrechtCoen Koppen Jan van der Waalstraat - Courtyard - UtrechtCoen Koppen
Jan van der Waalstraat - Courtyard - UtrechtCoen Koppen Flowers in the Gerard Noodtstraat - Tuinwijk - UtrechtCoen Koppen
Flowers in the Gerard Noodtstraat - Tuinwijk - UtrechtCoen Koppen Windmill Rijn and Zon at sunset - Vogelenbuurt - UtrechtCoen Koppen
Windmill Rijn and Zon at sunset - Vogelenbuurt - UtrechtCoen Koppen Windmill Rijn and Zon at sunset II - Vogelenbuurt - UtrechtCoen Koppen
Windmill Rijn and Zon at sunset II - Vogelenbuurt - UtrechtCoen Koppen Former Gerardus Majella school - Tuinwijk - UtrechtCoen Koppen
Former Gerardus Majella school - Tuinwijk - UtrechtCoen Koppen Vollersbridge Utrecht - WinterCoen Koppen
Vollersbridge Utrecht - WinterCoen Koppen Bartholomeüsbrug & Catherijnesingel UtrechtCoen Koppen
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Pendulum path Catherijnesingel UtrechtCoen Koppen Biltse Grift - UtrechtCoen Koppen
Biltse Grift - UtrechtCoen Koppen