tou 13-055 presspack tour de france eng.pdf

Press Pack

Tour de FranceUtrecht 2015

#TDFutrecht www.tourdefranceutrecht.com

A warm welcome to Utrecht!

Welcome to Utrecht 3

utrecht: heart of the Netherlands 4

Historic and dynamic 6

development 10

Flourishing culture 12

The bike centre stage 14

FACTS & FIGURES 16

Dutch cycling heroes 18

How to reach Utrecht? 20

contact 22

Contents

2Utrecht Tour de France 2015

Welcome to Utrecht

Welcome, Tour de France, in the City and Province of Utrecht, for the Grand Départ of the 102nd Tour! The first scuffles in a new heroic cycling race, that will climax in distant and high mountains, will take place just around the corner. Together with the organisers we put on a stage that is solid as a rock. A stage through the heart of cycling country the Netherlands, a friendly and hospitable country of woodlands, fields, lakes and rivers, full of talented, curious and entrepreneurial people. On this authentic Utrecht stage the rider with the best legs will win – encouraged by sports fans of all ages.2015 – Grand Départ. The eyes of the world are on the Tour and on Utrecht. Who will win the first yellow jersey? Utrecht and the Utrechters are ready for the start.

Aleid WolfsenMayor of Utrecht

Ready, steady, go

Dreams that come true – it doesn’t always happen. But today it will. The Tour de France will start in Utrecht. In our very own city. In 2015. When a dream like this comes true, it fits to extend a very warm welcome.


The Netherlands is known around the world for windmills, the Delta Works, tulips, clogs, Delftware and bicycles. In 2014 the Netherlands will be in the spotlight as a cycling nation. With good cause. With 17,000 kilometres of cycling paths and 4,500 kilometres of national cycling routes, the Netherlands is a cycling nation per definition. With Utrecht as its athletic beating heart. After five years, the start of the Tour returns to the

country with the highest bicycle density in the world. To Utrecht, the city with the highest sports participation in the biggest cities of the Netherlands. In 2010 it was Rotterdam that welcomed the Tour entourage to the Dutch harbour city. An impressive trail of riders crossed the iconic Erasmus Bridge. In 2015 is the turn of Utrecht, with its young population and historic city, to embrace this huge sports event.

The Tour returns to the Netherlands

In 2015 the Tour de France will start in Utrecht. After five years the biggest annual sports event in the world is back in the Netherlands. The Grand Départ is a cycling festivity that perfectly fits bicycle city Utrecht. It’s the chance for everyone in the Netherlands to experience the Tour de France from up close and a chance for the world to meet the surprising city of Utrecht.

UTRECHT: HEART OF THE NETHERLANDS

Tourstart Rotterdam 2010

utrechtrotterdam

35 km

Amsterdam(schiphol)


The Netherlands

The Netherlands has approximately 16,805,037 inhabitants, spread across twelve provinces

20% of all tweets world wide originate from the Netherlands

The Netherlands has 132,397 kilometres of roads; about four times the world round

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport welcomes 51 million passengers a year. They fly directly to 318 destinations around the world

The Dutch are on average the tallest people in the world

The Tour de France will start in the Netherlands for the sixth time; a record!

Cycling

z With 19 million bicycles in working order the Netherlands has the highest bicycle density in the world

z Every Dutch primary school pupil does an exam to obtain their cycling diploma

z 84% of the Dutch people have one or more bikes at their disposal

z Every year 15 billion kilometres pass underneath the wheels of these bikes

z The Netherlands has a unique ‘National Bicycle Plan’, allowing the tax man to pay for 52% of your bike

Her Majesty Queen Máxima and Mayor Wolfsen on bikes at the opening of the Máximapark in Utrecht.


There is a lot to discover in Utrecht. Romanesque churches, medieval wharves and of course the beautiful Gothic Dom Tower: the highest cathedral tower in the Netherlands and the pride of Utrecht. Just outside the city lay unique fortresses and the magical castle De Haar. From medieval canals, century old churches to modern architecture, Utrecht is rightly a city of monuments.

Discover Utrecht

Utrecht is the beating heart of the Netherlands. A bustling university city with unique dynamics. Compact enough to discover the historic inner city by foot. Big enough to enjoy cosmopolitan festivals, surprising museums and trendy shops for days at end.

HISTORIC AND DYNAMIC

The Dom Tower illuminated beautifully by ‘Trajectum Lumen’.

Light art in the Ganzenmarkt tunnel


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Bustling university city

Utrecht is an active student city. The presence of more than 65,000 innovative and creative students makes the city bustle. Brains and beauty. It really is Utrecht at its best. It also makes Utrecht an attractive business destination. Scientific and medical centres and the centrally located Jaarbeurs make Utrecht the Netherlands’ foremost congress city.

World famous architecture

Time has not stood still. Utrecht is also attracts lovers of modern architecture. The Rietveld Schröder House is a must see. On the Utrecht Science Park special designs by top architects mark the skyline with the Educatorium by Rem Koolhaas, Neutelings Riedijk’s Minnaert Building and the University Library by Wiel Arets.

Strong economy

Since 2012 the business community, research institutes and the authorities are working together in the Economic Board Utrecht (EBU). The EBU was set up to further stimulate the economy of Utrecht. With success: the province of Utrecht was named most competitive region of Europe by the European Commission for the second year in row.

1 Utrecht: a lively student city

2 University Library Utrecht by Wiel Arets


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The Dom

Symbol of the city and the pride of every Utrechter: the Dom. With 465 steps and a height of 112 metres it’s the highest church in the Netherlands and the highest building in Utrecht. Climbing the Dom gives you the opportunity to take in breath taking panoramic views of the city and region. After a legendary hurricane in 1645, that hit the nave of the cathedral, only the imposing chancel, transept and tower of the church remained standing.

� www.domtoren.nl

Canals

The Utrecht canals with their wharves and wharf cellars are unique in the world and shape the characteristic view of the city centre. The two kilometre long Oudegracht (Old Canal) was the main thoroughfare of the city from the 12th century. In the 13th century the wharves were added as a second street at water level. The long cellars run all the way back to under the houses and were used for storage. Nowadays the canals and wharves are a lively area for nightlife.

Paushuize

The Paushuize (Pope House) is the second oldest building in the historic part of Utrecht. This city palace was originally built in 1517 for the only ever Dutch pope, Adrianus VI. This amazing building has a spectacular interior and still exudes the atmosphere of a palace. The Paushuize recognizable by its red bricks with lighter coloured layers of natural stone and stepped gable.

� www.paushuize.nl

Castle De Haar

Castle De Haar is the biggest and most enchanting castle of the Netherlands. Throughout the year it’s bustling with activities.

� www.kasteeldehaar.nl

1 Paushuize

2 Dom: pride of the city

3 The Netherlands’ biggest castle: De Haar


Athletic Utrecht

The start of the Tour de France fits the varied and dynamic sports city of Utrecht perfectly. The focus is on youth and talent; everyone should be able to enjoy sports on his or her level. Utrechters are young, highly educated and sports minded. With 70% the participation in sports is higher than the national average. Utrecht’s central position in the Netherlands and the wide range of modern indoor and outdoor sports facilities on offer, makes Utrecht an important meeting point for sports. Talents inspire each other and future stage and medal winners are born. In short, in Utrecht the sporting talent of everyone takes a central position.

Cycling talents from across Europe during EYOF Utrecht 2013


Combined musical forces

Combining forces and mutually reinforcing each other; a good example is concert hall TivoliVredenburg. Former music centre Vredenburg is rebuilt and expanded with pop music venue Tivoli and jazz centre SJU. Besides architect Herman Hertzberger’s big large concert hall, there will be four new halls for pop, jazz, crossover and chamber music. The city’s new icon can accommodate 5,500 music lovers. 2014 is marked in Utrecht as a year of music, culminating with the opening of TivoliVredenburg on June 21st.

Utrecht Central Station Metamorphosis

Due to its central position Utrecht is a hub for road, water and rail transport. Every year about 88 million passengers pas through Utrecht Central Station and this will increase to 100 million a year by 2020. To accommodate this Utrecht is building a new public transport terminal. In 2016 the station with its unique light transmitting rippled roof is plan ned to be finished. Up until 2030 dozens of other projects will be completed within the station area.

� www.cu2030.nl

Investing in Utrecht’s future

Besides a historic city Utrecht is also a modern city in development. With investments the city grows and flourishes in all kinds of ways. For example the station area is undergoing an extensive metamorphosis and expansion site Leidsche Rijn is gaining more and more shape just 20 minutes from the historic inner city. Along the Catharijnesingel a unique and striking concert hall is arising: TivoliVredenburg.

development

Concert hall: TivoliVredenburg (above)

An impression of the new station area (below)


Leidsche Rijn: biggest expansion site

Leidsche Rijn is the biggest expansion location of the Netherlands and just 20 minutes’ cycle ride of Utrecht’s inner city. Up until 2025 31,000 new houses will be developed in Leidsche Rijn, housing 100,000 inhabitants. Unique in this project is that old and new are combined. Archaeological findings, old lanes and ditches, trees and monumental farms are embedded in new building plans.

� www.leidscherijn.nl

Education, innovation, knowledge: Utrecht Science Park

The perfect match between innovative knowledge and business. The progress starts when scientists and entrepreneurs join forces. With Utrecht University as best university of the Netherlands, University Medical Centre Utrecht as one of the biggest public health facilities in the country and many innovative companies and research facilities, Utrecht Science park is the heart of the knowledge based economy. In 2015 the Princess Maxima Centre will open its doors there. This unique top class institute aims to increase the survival rate of children with cancer from 75 to 90 percent.

� www.utrechtsciencepark.nl

1 Developments at Leidsche Rijn from the air

2 Casa Confetti building at the Utrecht Science Park

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Dick Bruna House

There is one creation from Utrecht more known world wide than Rietveld’s chair, and that is Miffy, the rabbit designed by Utrechter Dick Bruna in 1955. Miffy has grown to become an international celebrity, not just as a children’s book character, but as a design icon. Since 2006 Miffy and her family have found a place to live in the Dick Bruna House. It offers a unique overview of the entire works of Dick Bruna.

� www.museautrecht.nl

The Rietveld Schröder House

The Rietveld Schröder House is the masterpiece of Utrecht architect and designer Gerrit Rietveld (18881964) and an icon of the city. This UNESCO World Heritage listed monument is the highlight of the art movement “De Stijl”, featuring the opening of closed facades and the colours red, blue and yellow, combined with white, grey and black. Every part of the house built in 1924 tells its own story.


Magical musuems and flashing festivals

Utrecht is a cultural city of festivals, with festivals in all shapes and sizes. From progressive performing arts in one of the green parks to dance festivals on one of the old market squares. Utrecht celebrates 2013 with the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) and the Treaty of Utrecht. Utrecht surprises with a wealth of culture and a wide range of museums. The world’s biggest collection of works by Rietveld, a unique collection of self-playing musical instruments, the Royal trains in the Railway Museum, the world famous Miffy and a lot more.

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1 Miffy

2 The Rietveld Schröder House (the world famous chair by Rietveld is on show in the Centraal Museum)

Flourishing culture

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City of Festivals

It is clear from all the festivals and events that are held around the year in and near Utrecht, that Utrecht is a very cultural city. From a day dedicated to listed monuments to theatre festivals, from music events to the Netherlands Film Festival. The whole year round Utrecht is brighten up by all its festivals. And Utrecht has Cultural Sundays; special Sundays with vibrant programmes full theatre, dance, music, film and big and small stages on squares and in parks.

� www.bezoek-utrecht.nl/content/evenementen

Museums

Utrecht has a striking array of museums with interesting exhibitions. There are numerous museums for young and old in the Utrecht Museum Quarter. The Railway Museum takes the visitors into the exciting world of railways. Centraal Museum surprises with a rich collection old, modern and applied art and collections of fashion and city history. Not to mention the biggest collection of works by Rietveld in the world. Museum Speelklok comes to live with cheerful selfplaying musical instruments.


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1 Theatre and dance on a ‘Cultural Sundays’

2 The Speelklok Museum

3 The Centraal Museum


Bicycle city Utrecht

Utrecht is a young, dynamic city with a focus on youth and talent. Utrechters are young, highly educated and sport minded. Utrecht is a real bike city. Just between 07.00 and 19.00 every day 90,000 cyclists go to and from the city centre. In the next few years the city will invest in safer and faster cycling routes and more parking places for bicycles, including the biggest bicycle storage facility in the world!

The bike centre stage

With the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, the Vecht area and the Green Heart, Utrecht is located in the garden of central the Netherlands. The city is bicycle minded, not just for recreation. Cycling is one of the focus sports in the city, with the outdoor cycling centre at Nedereindse Berg, more than 50 annual editions of the Ronde van Midden Nederland. The city the beating heart for competitive cyclists. With the finish of the second stage of the Giro d’Italia in May 2010 and cycling as one of the nine sports of the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) a climate is created for professional cycling.

The Utrecht Bicycle Couriers

The bike is everywhere in Utrecht; cycling students, tourists on waterbikes, gym users on their stationary bikes to bicycle couriers. The Utrecht bicycle couriers have been delivering post in and around Utrecht for nine years; there’s no faster and more sustainable way of transport.

� www.defietskoerierutrecht.nl

International Cycling Events

During the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) Utrecht 2013 the future Olympic

champions cycled on Het Lint in Leidsche Rijn for two days. Featuring a road race for girls for the very first time.In May 2010 there were more than 500,000 spectators along the route of the Giro d’Italia in the city and province of Utrecht. After 210 kilometres Tyler Farrar came cheering across the finishing line on the Croeselaan in the heart of Utrecht. That day nearly 7,000 cyclist imagined themselves professional riders on nearly the same route. Now, nearly five years later still thousands of people join in the annual Classico Giro Utrecht.

� www.classicogiroutrecht.nl


http://www.rondevanmiddennederland.nl

http://www.rondevanmiddennederland.nl

Durf: the Utrecht bicycle factory

The De Utrechtse Rijwiel Frabriek (DURF) is a bicycle factory where young people learn by doing. A craftsman explains to his apprentices how to make the unique design city bicycles ‘VANMOOF’. At the end of the learning period the student is assisted in finding a job. A unique workstudy programme with as a result cool city bikes you see across the urban landscape.

� www.durfutrecht.nl

Oldest ‘bicycle path’ of the Netherlands

Utrecht has the oldest ‘bicycle path’ of the Netherlands. In September 1885 the pedestrian path on the Maliebaan in Utrecht was opened on Sunday afternoons for bicycles and so became an actual bicycle path.

Facts

z In the next few years there will be 33,000 new places to park your bike in Utrecht, two thirds of which will be directly next to the new station.

z Utrecht experiments with smarter traffic lights: the waiting time at the Lucas Bridge was reduced from 35 to 21 seconds.

z The Utrecht Festival Lief has bikes for its visitors to borrow: cycling together, dancing together, sharing together.

z To promote the green recreational areas in and around the city, routes from the centre are marked with special green bicycle signs.

z Around the Central Station all bikes will get covered storage places. With room for 12,500 bikes, it will be the biggest bicycle parking facility in the world.

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1 Bike parking places at Neude Square

2 Maliebaan: the oldest cycling path in the Netherlands


FACTS & FIGURES

Utrecht in the global press

“ Utrecht un icono de la

cultura europea”

Credomatic (02/2011)

“ Utrecht est une ville festive

et terriblement attachante”

Le Figaro (05/2011)

“ A city with strong

medieval roots”

Chicago Splash (06/2011)

“ Utrecht capital de la

cultura y de la juventud”

El Viajero (11/2011)

“ One of the oldest

and liveliest cities

in the Netherlands.”

Reisreporter (04/2011)

“ Small scaled, friendly,

clean and full of history.”

AD Utrechts Nieuwsblad

(04/2011)

“ Hollands schonste

Grachtenstadt”

Berliner Morgenpost

(07/2011)

“ The perfect destination

for a green citybreak”

Green Guide to Utrecht

(05/2011)

Utrecht as one of the five

“happies place to live”

BBC Travel (10/2013)

“ 10 of the world’s

unsung places”

Lonely Planet (02/2013)

“ Utrecht is the

new Amsterdam”

CNN Travel (09/2013)


facts & figures Facts

Utrecht has around 322,000 inhabitants with 163 different nationalities, making it the fourth city of the Netherlands.

A Utrecht delicacy is the ‘Domtorentje’; dark chocolate filled with a lovely creamy chocolate mouse.

With more than 300 sports clubs Utrecht has the highest sports participation figures in the big cities of the Netherlands

At Utrecht Central Station the biggest bicycle storage is to be built with 12,500 places

Famous Utrechters

q Wesley Sneijder

Football player

q Adriaan Florenszoon Boeyens

The only Dutch pope ever (Rome, 1522)

q Anton Geesink (19642010)

Olympic judo champion

q Marco van Basten

Football player, coach and trainer

q Dick Bruna

Illustrator and writer

q Sylvia Kristel (1952 2012)

Actrice


“ Starting in the Netherlands is something really special. My first big cycling race, the Giro d’Italia, started in Amsterdam and finished in Utrecht, which was a great experience. Hopefully, we can make the first days into a great spectacle.”

Bauke Mollema.

“ I look forward to starting the world’s biggest cycling race in my own country and native region. It’s a childhood dream coming true.”

Wilco Kelderman.

YOUNG DUTCH CYCLING TALENTS

Dutch cycling heroes


“ For me the Grand Depart in Utrecht will be a special motivation. It’s an honour to have the start of the most popular sports event in the Netherlands. I remember the impact it had in 2010. It is good for the development of cycling in the Netherlands, as everyone gets excited and comes in closer contact with the sport. I hope it also inspires more children in the Netherlands to take up cycling.”

Tom Dumoulin.

“ The Tour de France is the biggest cycling event in the world. We missed the Tour start with our team in the Netherlands in 2010, but it would be a dream to be part of the start in Utrecht, as it is always a special feeling to start a race in your own country. Utrecht is a beautiful city, with great surroundings and lots to offer, and I am sure they will give the riders and cycling fans a great time”

Tom Veelers.


By air

Flights leave for Amsterdam Schiphol Airport from over 318 global locations. There is a direct 30 minute train connection from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to the centre of Utrecht.

By train

Utrecht Central Station is a national hub with trains from all corners of the Netherlands, arriving nearly every minute. Amsterdam and Schiphol Aiport are both thirty minutes by train; Rotterdam and The Hague 45 minutes. There are daily international trains leaving to Brussels (2 hours), Cologne (2,5 hours) and Paris (3,5 hours). Construction is in full swing at the moment on a new public transport terminal,

connecting the inner city with the station and accommodating a growing number of passengers.

By car

Utrecht is 40 kilometres from |the capital city of Amsterdam, 125 kilometres from Antwerp and 175 from Brussels. Utrecht is surrounded by three of the biggest motorways, making it easily |accessible from every direction.

Within Utrecht

Utrecht has a modern and efficient public transport system. The short distances mean it is also very easy to discover by foot. By far the best way to go from A to B in Utrecht is by bike. There are several locations as well as hotels that rent bikes, so you can discover Utrecht like a local.

Location and accessibility

Utrecht is located right in the middle of the Netherlands. It’s a hub of national roads, railways and waterways. This makes Utrecht the perfect base for a visit to the Netherlands and its other cities.

How to reach Utrecht?


utrecht

antwerp

rotterdam

Brussels

lille

london

hull

Norwich

harwich

dover

calaisDunkirk

zeebrugge

Paris

cambridge

leeds

Cologne

amsterdam (schiphol)


See you in Utrecht!

City of UtrechtContact Person: Femke van der [email protected] +31 (0)30 2862818

www.tourdefranceutrecht.com

LeTourUtrecht

@LeTourUtrecht

#TDFutrecht

© Gemeente Utrecht, november 2013Concept and text Gemeente Utrecht in cooperation with Tourism UtrechtPhotography EYOF Utrecht 2013, Jelmer de Haas, Shutterstock,

Tourism Utrecht, Gemeente UtrechtDesign HaasDesign

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https://twitter.com/letourutrecht

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