Utrecht als culture metropool. De stadsidentiteit van Utrecht aan de hand van Utrecht 2018, de Sint Maartenviering en de Via Trajectensis

Abstract

The main focus of this research is the way in which Utrecht constructs an identity using the initiatives Utrecht 2018, the feast of Saint Martin and the Via Trajectensis. Once a year two member states of the European Union present a city of their own, for the title: European Capital of Culture. Candidates have to submit a bidbook, which will be evaluated on two important elements, namely the European dimension and the city and civilians dimension. Utrecht participated the bid for 2018, but unfortunately they did not make it through the pre-selection. In the bidbook called: Trust the Future, Create your City the organizers used the tangible and intangible heritage of Saint Martin of Tours to construct an identity. During the early medieval period Saint Martin became patron saint of Utrecht, and much of his legacy nowadays can be seen in the Domchurch. The saint is known for its cure values sharing and solidarity. Because of this, The Saint Martin Association in Utrecht coordinates the Saint Martin feast and the Via Trajectensis, with the intention to highlight the concept of: ‘the sharing citizen’. These three initiatives are analyzed on discourses and hidden agendas, so its clear to see the identity constructions.