This central square is now one of Utrecht’s main public spaces, but for decades it looked very different. In the postwar period (1950s–1970s), Neude was largely used for parking and traffic , reflecting a time when the city centre was designed around cars. From the 1990s onward, Utrecht began reversing that approach. Parking was gradually removed, streets were redesigned, and the square was given back to pedestrians. Today it functions as a flexible public space with markets, events, and terraces, much closer to its historic role. What makes this spot interesting is how visible the shift is. …
