RuimteUtrecht rents out three converted sand hoppers, known as De Trechters, for meetings, trainings, executive sessions, retreats and presentations. Each room takes up to 18 people, and the site mentions about 20 in some layouts. The venue stands on the Veilinghavenkade in Utrecht, within walking distance of Utrecht Centraal station and the city center.
Seminars and company events
De Trechters are built for working groups, not for large conferences. The venue lists board meetings, management retreats (heisessies), trainings, presentations and general business meetings as its uses. A group books one hopper for itself. The room is not shared, so there are no common facilities and no other guests passing through. The hopper is raised about 10 meters above the ground, which gives a view over the harbor on all sides.
The site describes three hoppers standing next to each other. A company that needs two or three working groups at the same time can therefore ask for neighboring rooms. Opening hours are every day from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., on reservation, so an evening session after a workday is possible.
Rooms and capacities
Each Trechter offers 60 m2 of floor area and daylight on four sides. The layout can change: the venue speaks of several possible setups for up to about 20 people. Equipment in the room includes a large TV screen with sound and video conferencing gear, a blackout curtain, a mobile whiteboard, flip charts, and high-speed internet by cable and Wi-Fi. The room has air conditioning and a heating element with a microbe air filter.
Hybrid work is part of the offer: participants who join online can follow the session through the video conferencing equipment.
Catering
The in-house caterer is Driessen Smaakvermaak. The venue says its dishes are prepared by hand and offers a wide choice. Coffee, tea and soft drinks are available all day, with snacks between sessions. Lunch and other meals can be added to the booking. A service team receives the participants and stays available during the meeting.
History and setting
The site has a history of about 90 years. It once housed the fruit and vegetable auctions of Utrecht, and before that it served as storage for the sand and gravel hoppers of moored ships. The venue kept this heritage and reshaped the hoppers into meeting rooms. The old harbor gives the area a quiet, waterside setting. For a team outing, the venue also mentions boat trips.
Getting there
The address is Veilinghavenkade 4-6-8, 3521 AK Utrecht, in the Dichterswijk area. Utrecht Centraal is within walking distance, and the venue states that enough parking space exists in the surroundings for guests who come by car.
