Het gaatje

In the heart of the centre of Utrecht, a small house was located on the corner of Drift and Kromme Nieuwe Gracht until 1940. The demolition of the house left 'het gaatje', a vacant lot of less than three by five metres. This is where architect Sluijmer built his 'Sluijmer House', an ultramodern building amidst monumental property, after a legal struggle that was resolved in his favour after seven years. Filmmaker Rimko Haanstra follows the entire construction process, juxtaposing three narrative lines: the architect, who sees his dream come true, the future occupants, who give up an old and spacious house in the country to be able to live here, and the outsiders: the public, the local residents and especially the next-door neighbour, who revealed himself as the biggest opponent of the project.