Utrecht, the Netherlands, on its way to becoming a smart city – A walk reveals everyday surveillance and what other cities could expect

The following article is based on the detailed article “A city tour through the shadows of Utrecht”from the independent weekly newspaper De Andere Krant, published on July 1, 2025. It describes an unusual city tour – the so-called “10-minute walk” – in which initiators such as Robbert Recourt, Dirk Plat, and Rens van den Bulck guide visitors through Utrecht’s digitalization.

At key points, topics such as camera surveillance, 5G masts, ANPR systems, urban surveillance, and the architecture of the station square are critically reflected upon. The aim of the project is to raise awareness of the ambivalence between the sustainable ideal of a smart city and the gradual restriction of freedom of movement and privacy.

Utrecht: A walk through the smart prison – criticism of the technocratic “10-minute city”

Utrecht presents itself as a pioneer of the urban future – as a “10-minute city” and a “smart city.” But behind the supposedly sustainable ideal of a city where all necessities are within walking distance, critical citizens are discovering another face: that of a creeping surveillance and control structure. An unusual city tour through Utrecht aims to make precisely this visible – with humour, costumes, and puppets, but also with clear words and data.

Organized by Robbert Recourt, Dirk Plat, and Rens van den Bulck, the so-called “10-minute walk” led around 40 participants past key points of digital control – from cameras with QR codes and ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) systems to 5G transmission towers and an unmanned police station. The aim was to raise awareness of a development that many perceive as an “open-air prison.”

The walk was not only analytical but also creative: Recourt appeared as a fictional PTT postman, and researcher Maartje van den Berg interacted with a talking hand puppet – a crow. Playfully yet critically, they demonstrated how the city is becoming a data-driven, controlled space in which freedom of movement is increasingly restricted and every action is potentially recorded.

Particularly striking: the evidence of the almost invisible radiation exposure from 5G. Artist Frank Zweers, founder of 5Gisnietoke.nl, presented measurement results that, according to him, far exceed acceptable levels for health. Co-initiator Lizzy Weeber warned of potential risks such as insomnia, headaches, and even cancer – citing a database from the University of Aachen containing tens of thousands of studies, two-thirds of which allegedly indicate health risks. According to Zweers, studies funded by industry have produced significantly more benign results.

The heart of the surveillance is the station square: cameras, sensors, transmission towers – and a new digital police station without real officers. An innovation borrowed directly from Dubai. The architecture of the station itself – bare, forbidding, hostile – becomes a symbol of alienation. Benches are missing or unusable, the greenery disappears – social warmth gives way to the logic of technocratic efficiency.

Eventually, the group encounters a so-called “restricted zone”: a street where only certain vehicles with a permit are allowed. The rest are recorded and excluded by cameras. The idea of living in an open city begins to crumble. Participants report how they increasingly feel like they are being “persecuted” – not by people, but by systems.

Despite the serious subject matter, the walk ends on a terrace, in conversation with people who share similar points of view. It’s more than just reasoning – it’s an attempt to preserve humanity and creativity in an increasingly dehumanized environment. Robbert Recourt sums it up: “We live in a theatre. So let’s make something creative out of it. Not forced inclusivity, but genuine expression. That’s what makes us human.”

Will there be a sequel? That depends on the response – but demand seems to be there. What remains is the feeling: This city tour was also a glimpse into the future of many European cities – and a wake-up call.

yogaesoteric
July 15, 2025