Catharijnesingel

The Catharijnesingel is a historic moat and roadway in the Dutch city of Utrecht. The street and canal run from the Ledig Erf and Westerkade to the Smakkelaarsveld and Daalsesingel into which it merges. The canal runs under Hoog Catharijne shopping center, which contains transparent glass panels giving visitors to Hoog Catharijne a view of the boats moving below.

From the middle ages until the 19th century, Utrecht was a fortified city surrounded by the moat and bastions, which restricted the city's development. In the 19th century, the city lost its military function when the New Dutch Waterline was constructed which included the defence of Utrecht. In 1830 the walls were demolished and the area around the moat was transformed into the English style park Zocherplantsoen, named after its architect Jan David Zocher jr.