History

‘De Utrechtse Stadsvrijheid’ (Utrecht Urban Freedom) dates back to the 15th century. Back then, Utrecht had 15 rural districts just outside the city walls — known as rural jurisdictions. The people who lived there weren’t full citizens but were still under Utrecht’s jurisdiction for major offenses. Fun fact: they were allowed to seek protection within the city, but only if they agreed to help patrol the outer ring at night to keep the city guards alert. The term stadsvrijheid (Urban Freedom) comes from the Dutch medieval word vriheit, referring to a legal jurisdiction — although legend has it, it also referred to a place where people could live freely and do things their own way. Sound familiar? Exactly — that spirit lives on at DUS.

If you’ve ever crossed the Demka bridge, you’ve brushed past Utrecht history. The bridge is named after the Demka steel factory (short for De Muinck Keizer). This iconic factory moved to Zuilen in 1913 and became a major employer in the region. Workers would often relax in the surrounding area — yes, the same land that was once the city liberty.

Although the original factory is gone, one key building remains: the post-war drawing spaces, where designs for steel constructions were drafted. That very building is now home to DUS. Pretty poetic, right?

In 1983, building company Jurriëns bought the drawing spaces and — in collaboration with architect Jan Bakers — transformed the space into a sustainable gem. Fully insulated, fitted with heat pumps, daylight-friendly windows and smart lighting, this building was ahead of its time. Just like DUS today.