What’s happening?

March & April

What’s happening?

THINGS TO DO & PLACES TO GO

A GOOD LAUGH Utrecht International Comedy Festival The American culture website Vulture added the Utrecht comedy fest to its list of nine fantastic comedy festivals. For a good reason: the Utrecht International Comedy Festival is the largest stand-up comedy festival in the Benelux. Seven rooms on the top floor of TivoliVredenburg will provide a stage for over sixty British, American, Canadian, Belgian and Dutch performers. And there’s even more: the UICF is preceded by a Utrecht Comedy Week, which includes a show by the ‘anarchist cook’ George Egg and Raul Kohli’s pick of the Edinburgh Fringe. > 6 and 7 March, TivoliVredenburg utrechtinternationalcomedyfestival.nl

THE UICF IS THE LARGEST STAND-UP COMEDY FESTIVAL IN THE BENELUX

EXPERIMENTAL Utrechter Jazz Club Every first Thursday of the month, jazz fans are treated to a club concert in the private lounge of the De Utrechter bar. Utrechter Jazz Club evenings (a partnership between De Utrechter, UJazz and saxophonist Kika Sprangers) provides a podium for jazz scene musicians who are keen to experiment, innovate and test the boundaries of jazz music. > every first Thursday of the month, De Utrechter (Vredenburg 40) deutrechter.nl/clubjazz

Universiteitsmuseum Utrecht Grab the opportunity to visit the museum and the old botanical garden before it will close its doors for renovations on 25 April. At the museum, kids (and their family) can get to know their inner scientists by carrying out experiments or investigating the differences between humans and animals. And the old botanical garden (de Oude

Hortus) is a beautiful and relaxing place full

of exotic trees and plants. > until 25 April, Universiteitsmuseum Utrecht (Utrecht University Museum) universiteitsmuseum.nl/english

Last chance!

MADE IN UTRECHT Mesjokke has been producing a true Utrecht chocolate brand for four years under the motto ‘bean to bar’. These Chocolate Explorers buy their cocoa beans straight from the farmers, who are given a fair price. They then take care of the entire production process - from roasting the beans to packaging the finished chocolate bars. > Mesjokke chocolate is available from Familie van Rijk (Amsterdamsestraatweg 379), branches of 30ML, Morty’s Kaas en Delicatessen (Kanaalstraat 57) and Bij Kees (Rijnlaan 9). choxplore.nl

MUST-DO ‘Tekenen Onder Invloed’ Every month in EKKO, there’s a unique opportunity to draw under the influence of light, sound, performance, projections and props. During the series of interactive performances, you’ll be shown short and longer scenes from our off and online world in rapid succession. Packed with humour, current affairs, escapism and critical engagement, and with a nude model acting as a beacon amid the chaos. Sign up if you’re interested. Drawing skills are irrelevant, everyone is welcome, but remember to bring your own materials. Hint: think (and draw) big! > 10 March and 14 April, EKKO ekko.nl

What’s happening?

BEAM ME UP Dom Tower Even though the pride of Utrecht is currently shrouded in scaffolding, you can still climb the tower with a guide during the renovation work. From the beginning of April, you can even go up with an elevator. Climbing the 465 steps is still possible, if you fancy a workout. Book your ticket online or go to the VVV tourist information office. > daily, Domplein domtoren.nl/en/visitor-information/ ticketshop

March & April

LOCAL FAVOURITE Whakamarie On the corner of Biltstraat and F.C. Dondersstraat, you’ll find Whakamarie. The front section is dominated by the South-American kitchen giving the full Mexican cantina experience. The former fast-food shop behind it has been transformed into an Izakaya - a.k.a. a Japanese pub. Dishes from both parts of the world are served under one roof, from breakfast burritos, okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes), fresh ceviche and Japanese BBQ, to tacos with softshell crab. Not forgetting a glass of saké or mezcal of course. > F.C. Dondersstraat 2 whakamarie.nl

MUST-SEE Slot Zuylen Just out of town, in the picturesque village of Oud-Zuilen, you’ll find one of the oldest castles on the Vecht: Slot Zuylen. A lot of authoritative people lived in this castle - including several influential women such as the writer Belle van Zuylen. There are guided tours of Slot Zuylen which are given in Dutch, but all the information is available in English. The castle gardens are also open to visitors (with or without a guide), as is the museum café. > Saturday and Sunday (until 1 April) and Tuesday to Sunday (from 1 April onwards), Tournooiveld 1 (Oud-Zuilen) slotzuylen.nl/english

SEVERAL INFLUENTIAL WOMEN LIVED IN SLOT ZUYLEN