Rotsoord is the Brooklyn of Utrecht.
Rotsoord named the Brooklyn of Utrecht
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Rotsoord the Brooklyn of Utrecht.
The "Brooklyn of" a city is a metaphor, of course: shorthand for the coolest neighborhood in town, the one where independent culture, serious coffee, and creative energy define the character. Not the old town, not where the hop-on-hop-off bus goes. Every big enough city has one, and the site names exactly one per city. In many cities the pick is close to consensus, the name locals would give without hesitating. In others it picks a side. Utrecht's verdict went to Rotsoord ahead of Lombok, Werkspoorkwartier and Oog in Al, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Rotsoord the Brooklyn of Utrecht. It is a stretch of old factories along the canal that got second lives, and the whole thing feels like it happened naturally, not by committee, which is exactly what the title is trying to name. Locals are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Rotsoord's independent hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars and shops: no big chains, nothing sponsored, and placements are not for sale. Selections draw on research and local tastemakers in each city, and readers who disagree are invited to make their case.
The full Utrecht verdict: brooklynof.com/utrecht
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/utrecht
Runner-up neighborhoods: Lombok, Werkspoorkwartier, Oog in Al
Free for editorial use in coverage of brooklynof.com. Credit: brooklynof.com.
hello [at] brooklynof.com · Per is available for interviews, quotes, and written commentary on this and every city in the index.