While Utrecht is the Nederlands’ fourth largest city, it is often overlooked due to the other three: Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Den Haag. This was not always the case as Utrecht was the center during the Dutch Golden Age. During that time, seven provinces signed the Union of Utrecht in 1568 and subsequently fought off Catholic Spain for 80 years to gain independence. The Dutch became an economic, scientific and cultural powerhouse and Utrecht along with its university was at the center of it all…Literally, as the city of 365,000 is located in the geographical heart of the country and spans the canal link to Amsterdam to the north and the Lek river to the south connecting to Rotterdam, Arnhem and the Rhine. The Vuil-Water (Dirty water) putdeksel has the standard Dutch grid interrupted by the utility mark at the center, pickpoints on the side and an added abstracted Dom icon which is found on curb sluices throughout the city. That grid is the backbone of the De Stijl movement popularized by Piet Mondrian and favorite sons Theo Van Doesburg and Gerrit Rietveld. The latter’s Schröder House, designed a century ago, is a remarkable work of architecture and a must-visit while seeking out this nearby cover.