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Step-gabled Keizersgracht 123 at night (built 1622).

 

Welcome to ArtNetherlands.com's guide to Architecture of the Netherlands during Golden Age. From pre-Renaissance pointed-gable wooden houses to 18th centure facades with elevated cornices... this guide's aim is to help identify the styles and approximate ages of buildings in the Netherlands, as well as prominent buildings...

such as the Bartolotti House (right), and Keizersgracht 123 (left)

CONTENTS:

Major Dutch Architecture styles
from the 14th through 19th centuries: 		 

The Bartolotti House, Amsterdam

Designed by Hendrick de Keyser, completed in 1617 for Willem van den Heuvel (also known by his abopted name: Guillelmo Bartolotti), one of the richest merchants in Amsterdam. Found at: Herengracht 170-172.

with Westerkerkstoren.

Major Dutch Architecture styles
from the 14th through 19th centuries:

Wooden Houses with Pointed Gables (1200-1550):
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For Amsterdam's first few centuries, most houses were constructed of wood. Today, only two still exist within the city limits. The oldest of the two (Begijnhof 34) is pictured on the far left and dates from around 1475. Earlier the house has steps leading up to a door on the left hand side, but these have since been removed. The other wooden house in Amsterdam can be found at Zeedijk 1 (pictured on the right)- now a bar called In 't Aepjen. These wooden houses were so vulnerable to fire, that by 1669 several ordinances were passed in Amsterdam forbidding thier construction. The middle photograph features a wooden house found in Alkmaar.

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Facades with Roll Ornaments (1570-1600):
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Not many of these were built and only two exist today in Amsterdam. One, on the far left, stands on Singel 423 (between Spui and the Leidsestraat); the other (the middle and a close-up on the right) can be found at St. Annenstraat 12 (off warmoesstraat). The "roll" refers to the curved steps.

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Step-gables (1600-1665):
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In 17th Century Amsterdam stepped gables were predominent. Only about a hundred survive today.

"like two flights of stairs joining forces at the top"

The stepped gable revived during the 19th century as a feature of the neo-Renaissance style. White sandstone blocks usually topped each step. The step gable style could boast little ornamentation, or a great deal. The Bartolotti House is considered a highly ornamented step gabled double house.

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Spout-gables (Funnel-shaped gables) (1620-1720):
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Recognized by thier upside-down funnel shape, finished with a sandstone coping, spout-gables were rarely used for the front facade of a house.

The spout-gable was most often used by warehouses. These spout-gable warehouses can be found clumped along the Prinsengracht (an area zoned as commercial). The warehouses pictured left date from around 1690. Note the large windows to allow easy passage of goods through the front.

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Neck-gables (1640-1770):
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The first Neck gable was constructed by Philip Vingboons and dates from 1638 (Herengracht 168 - right next to de Keyser's famous Bartolotti House). 18th century neck gables tend to have taller 'necks' and are often more richely ornamented. Most neck gables were constructed with brick facades, though some were made entirely of sandstone (as in the beautiful canal buildings that now house the Bibles Museum, on Herengracht- far left image).

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Elevated Neck-gables (1640-1670):
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Neck gables come in two types: elevated neck gables and non-elevated. Elevated neck gables have an extra 'step' (hence why elevated step gables are seen as a cross with the traditional step gables of the early 17th century).

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Bell-gables (1660-1790):
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Bell gables and neck gables are similar in silhouette. But in bell gables the facades' bricks extend further to the edge of the sides of the 'bell'. Compare the images to the left and right with those of the neck gables above to spot the difference. Keizersgracht 716 (shown on the far left) is one of the oldest bell-gables in Amsterdam.

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Facades with Elevated Cornices (1700s):
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In the 18th century, the cornices (frequently ornamented, often sandtone, molded projections that crowned the facades of buildings), of many Amsterdam houses had an arch to accomodate a loft window (to provide easier access to the hoist beam. Sometimes, in this era, the cornice could become very intricate. In the 19th century the elevated cornice went into decline and was replaced with more practical, yet somewhat drab, straight cornice facades.

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(Straight) Cornice Facades (17th, 18th and especially 19th centuries):
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Sculpture work provided by stone-cutters in sandstone, faded by the late 1700s. The easier, cheaper, to construct straight gable came into fashion. Some, like Leidsegracht 27 (far right), and Keizersgracht 460 (far left), once neck-gabled houses, were converted into cornice facades. These 'sobered' tops, with considerably less ornamentation, seemed to reflect the deteriorating economic situation of the period.

 

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the hoist beam
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