View on the city of Utrecht

This is a west view of Utrecht. Behind the city wall, a sea of church towers emerges. Across the foreground winds the Oude Rijn, just before becoming the Leidsche Rijn canal. Plans had been made here for a huge expansion of the city. Droochsloot has recorded a panorama that seemed to be disappearing. Although lack of money meant the new developments could not go ahead, the skyline would still change dramatically due to a devastating tornado on 1 August 1674. Unaware of this threat, the painter had documented this old setting for us.