A castle right in the middle of Utrecht
From the 12th to the 14th centuries, wealthier residents built stone houses, in contrast to the smaller wooden ones which made up most of Utrecht.
Oudaen was built around 1276, is classified as a city castle, and is one of the most significant buildings in Utrecht. One of the earlier owners was the Van Houdaen family, a version of which became the name for the building.
Overzicht voorzijde Huis Oudaen (General view of the Oudaen facade)
(second building from the corner) April 1978
© Beeldbank van de Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed
It was built in two parts: the large, tall structure with a staircase tower on the left, and the relatively smaller house on the right which has the very grand front door. As you can imagine, the smaller house was easier to warm, so was apparently the more frequently occupied of the two. Heating bills in castles can be overwhelming.
Nameplate Het Huys Oudaen (Oudaen House), Utrecht
© Beeldbank van de Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed
As is to be expected, the buildings have undergone many changes in use since 1276, resulting in a fair few modifications of the structure over the centuries. This includes a time in the 18th century when it was a church-managed retirement home, as illustrated by the sculptures above the front entrance that depict an elderly man and woman.
Oudaen now operates as a restaurant, so there is a perfect opportunity to go in and check out some interiors. Most notably, it has its own craft brewery in the downstairs cellars. As if you needed any more reasons to check this significant historic building. Proost!
A tasting session in the City Brewery? Go on, you know you want to
Learn more about the building and the neighbourhood on our audio walking tour Castles, canals and good folk in Utrecht from VoiceMap.
Address Stadskasteel Oudaen, Oudegracht 99, 3511 AE Utrecht, The Netherlands
Opening hours Open daily from 08.00; check the website for closing times
Telephone +31 (0)3 0231 1864