The working-class neighborhood used to be a neighborhood where "the common people" lived, often in small houses in poor condition. Every city had its working-class neighborhoods. Utrecht had Wijk C, once so named because the French occupiers could not (or would not) pronounce the Dutch names.

Wijk C was Utrecht's most densely populated neighborhood 100 years ago. In the district, large families lived in small hovels. The residents lived mostly outside. Everyone had to work very hard for a few cents and there was a lot of poverty. But there was also much togetherness and solidarity.

Although Wijk C is the only district in Utrecht still referred to by a letter, the neighborhood has changed a lot in the meantime.
The working-class neighborhood of 100 years ago no longer exists, but it has resulted in the Volksbuurt Museum.

We still live close together and there are all kinds of challenges in living together. Step into the life of the De Jong family and discover the big and small stories of ordinary life in a working-class neighborhood in Utrecht. Maybe after this you will look at your neighborhood with a completely different perspective!

Temporary exhibition: Holiday! - a century of holiday joy
24 May 2024 - 15 September 2024

It hasn't been that long since 'going on holiday' wasn't so common. It wasn't until the 1960s that holidays slowly became accessible to the 'ordinary people'. It started with small steps, like going on a two-day bike trip or loading up the car and heading to Katwijk.

The museum's collection contains interviews with (former) residents of Wijk C in which we find many references to holidays and outings, which were highlights in what was often a somewhat austere life. People saved up for them, either alone or in a group, and the anticipation was great.

In this exhibition, we look back on the beginning and the development of going on holiday.