What the Jordaan was to Amsterdam, Wijk C was for Utrecht: a vibrant, working-class neighbourhood. It was a district full of trade, bustle, guesthouses and pubs where people spent a lot of time in the streets. Outsiders, including the city's wealthy rarely ventured into this area, especially when the neighbourhood was at its peak around 1875 when roughly 8,000 people lived there. The digging of a canal, the closing of the livestock market and a new road that divided the district all contributed to the area’s decline. Wijk C still exists but much of its local character has disappeared. If you’re interested in experiencing what life was like in this intriguing neighbourhood in the 19th century then definitely pay a visit to this small museum located in a former school.
