Winkel van Sinkel Store, Utrecht

Set among the numerous medieval houses along the Oudegracht canal is the Winkel van Sinkel building. It was originally built as a store, between 1837 and 1839, after Anton Sinkel, the owner, moved his business from Amsterdam to Utrecht.

The store was opened on May 6, 1839. Although it was primarily a drapery store without self-service, it is considered to be the first department store in the Netherlands. At some point, Winkel van Sinkel even became a general term for shops where everything was for sale.

The Rotterdam architect, Pieter Adams, designed the building in a late-Baroque style. The idea to decorate it with caryatids (sculpted female figure-columns) belongs to Sinkel. The four cast-iron statues were made in England and thence mockingly referred to as the “British whores”.

During their transportation, which happened to be by a barge, an accident happened. While lifting one of the statues, the upper part of the crane at the wharf broke off and fell into the water, along with the load. To this day, the site where the crane stood, in front of the building, is still marked.

The story does not tell, however, how the heavy statue finally got out of the water. In addition to the caryatids, another four cast-iron figures – symbolizing Commerce, Prudence, Seafaring, and Hope – have been placed on the façade as well.

The Sinkel company sold the property in 1898 and ceased to exist in 1912.

Today, the building is known as "Cultural Culinary Department Store". In addition to its function as a grand café-restaurant, it hosts evening dance club on weekends, with a tango matinee every second Sunday of the month, and a salsa party on all other Sundays. Other cultural activities also regularly take place, including the so-called Cultural Sundays.