The Dutch Open Telescope: History, Status, Prospects

After many years of persistent telescope design and telescope construction, R.H. Hammerschlag has installed his Dutch Open Telescope (DOT) on La Palma. I brie y review its history and design. The future of optical solar physics at Utrecht hinges on a recently-funded three- year DOT science validation period. The initial aim is to obtain high- resolution image sequences in the G band, Ca II K and H as proxy- magnetometry in support of SOHO and TRACE.