Since January 2026, a large-scale renovation has been underway at Café Le Journal at the Neude. This includes the creation of new underground spaces. The renovation offers a unique opportunity to explore the history of this historic location at the Neude. The excavation work is supervised by archaeologists from the Heritage department of the Municipality of Utrecht. Several remarkable architectural finds have been made, such as the foundations and cellars of various medieval houses, and a natural stone statue that has been lying beneath Café Le Journal all this time.
The archaeologists have found foundations and cellars of several medieval houses. Also, several cesspits—pits where the toilet emptied and where waste was thrown—dating from the 14th to the 18th century have been uncovered. People also threw broken dishes, food remains, or other items into such pits. The contents of the pits tell us a lot about how people lived in the past, with results: many loose items have been found, such as coins, pottery, tiles, and a small natural stone statue. This statue probably once stood on a facade or roof, for example as part of a coat of arms with a lion.
From marshy lowland to market
The Neude originally began as a wet, marshy lowland where the Rhine and Vecht rivers deposited their clay and sand. This is also reflected in the name Neude, derived from the word Node, meaning ‘marshy lowland’. From the 12th century, the area was gradually raised and divided, after which the first houses appeared in the 13th century. What was once a swampy river landscape grew into a densely built urban area. The soil still contains traces of that past: wooden structures, walls, cellars, and everyday remains such as hearths, water and cesspits that tell something about life in earlier times. Last year, a large public water well from the 16th century was found on the square.
Rik van der Graaf, alderman for Heritage: “These finds once again show how valuable archaeological research is when we further develop our city. Every time we uncover something special from the ground, we learn a little more about the Utrecht where we now live with so much pleasure. And perhaps the most beautiful thing is: even with these kinds of discoveries, so much remains hidden beneath our feet. It really feels like a privilege to live in a city with such a rich past.”
Progress
The archaeologists will continue digging in the coming weeks. It is expected that many more, and possibly much older, traces will be found. The progress of the excavations and new discoveries can be followed via a special website: Archaeology Neude | Municipality of Utrecht
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