So this weekend is Open Monument weekend in the Netherlands (aka National Heritage Days) and man, am I excited ;D
This week I'll show you which monuments are in my opinion worthwhile to visit, and each post is dedicated to a different city. Today I present you: Amsterdam!
This week I'll show you which monuments are in my opinion worthwhile to visit, and each post is dedicated to a different city. Today I present you: Amsterdam!
1. DOMINICUSKERK
I am a huge fan of Dutch 19th century architect Pierre Cuypers. He is most famous for designing Amsterdam Central Station and the Rijksmuseum, but I mostly love his churches. It's probably because I love churches in general and am a general lover of brick buildings. His buildings are often bright and don't shy away from colour, as you can see here in the Dominicus church.
This church is the only one in Amsterdam that has all the original furniture. Also, the flat roof is pretty uncommon for a church (I think?) and the construction of it is also pretty unique.
Address: Spuistraat 12
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10.00 - 17.00 and Sunday 15 September 13:00 - 17:00
How to get there: It's a 6 minute walk from Central Station
This church is the only one in Amsterdam that has all the original furniture. Also, the flat roof is pretty uncommon for a church (I think?) and the construction of it is also pretty unique.
Address: Spuistraat 12
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10.00 - 17.00 and Sunday 15 September 13:00 - 17:00
How to get there: It's a 6 minute walk from Central Station
2. AMBTSWONING VAN DE BURGEMEESTER (aka DEUTZHUIS/HUIS MET DE KOLOMMEN)
This gorgeous canal house is the official residence for the mayors of Amsterdam. It oozes decadence, and reminds you of a time long ago in... well, Paris, actually. I love the rich Louis XVI style interior (I always get confused which Louis it is.. There's Louis XV style, Louis XIV, Louis XVI :P) and especially the wallpapers and stucco decoration. This building is rarely open to public, so it's definitely worth a visit.
Address: Herengracht 502
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10.00 - 17.00 and Sunday 15 September 10.00 - 17.00
How to get there: From Central Station: Tram 16 or 24 to Boelelaan/VU or tram 25 to Pres. Kennedylaan and get off at Vijzelsgracht. From here it's a 2 minute walk.
Address: Herengracht 502
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10.00 - 17.00 and Sunday 15 September 10.00 - 17.00
How to get there: From Central Station: Tram 16 or 24 to Boelelaan/VU or tram 25 to Pres. Kennedylaan and get off at Vijzelsgracht. From here it's a 2 minute walk.
3. GRACHTENHUIS DE SOLEMNE
If you're planning on visiting the last building on the Herengracht, why not walk a little further to this other canal house? As mentioned, the Deutzhuis is decorated in Louis XVI style, and here at Solemne, you can see what Louis XV style looks like. Louis XVI is much more straightforward and tends more towards classicism, and Louis XV is much more rococo. As you can see on the photo, the ceiling at Solemne is wonderfully intricate.
Adsress: Herengracht 408
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 sep 10.00 - 17.00 and Sunday 15 September 10.00 - 17.00 uur
How to get there: From Central Station: Tram 2 to Nieuw Sloten, Tram 5 to A'veen Binnenhof, Tram 1 to Osdorp de Aker, get off at Koningsplein. From here it's a 1 minute walk.
Adsress: Herengracht 408
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 sep 10.00 - 17.00 and Sunday 15 September 10.00 - 17.00 uur
How to get there: From Central Station: Tram 2 to Nieuw Sloten, Tram 5 to A'veen Binnenhof, Tram 1 to Osdorp de Aker, get off at Koningsplein. From here it's a 1 minute walk.
4. BEURS VAN BERLAGE
Berlage, one of my other favourite Dutch architects, designed this commodity exchange building in 1885. You can tell Berlage travelled through Italy, as de Beurs and most of his other buildings have those signature towers that were inspired by Italian buildings like Palazzo Pubblico in Siena or the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. The buildings itself borrows a lot from different architectural styles (like neo-romanesque and renaissance), and is usually considered as one of the Netherlands architectural highlights.
Address: Beursplein 1-3
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10.00 - 17.00 and Sunday 15 September 10.00 - 17.00
How to get there: It's a 6 minute walk from Central Station.
Address: Beursplein 1-3
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10.00 - 17.00 and Sunday 15 September 10.00 - 17.00
How to get there: It's a 6 minute walk from Central Station.
5. DE GROENE BOCHT
Another one of those canal houses - but hey, it is Amsterdam we're talking about here ;) Most impressive about this neo-baroque building is the dome here you see on the photo. Interesting to see are also the original terracotta reliefs the place is richly decorated with.
Address: Keizersgracht 452
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10.00 - 17.00 and Sunday 15 September 10.00 - 17.00
How to get there: From Central Station: Tram 2 to Nieuw Sloten, Tram 5 to A'veen Binnenhof, Tram 1 to Osdorp de Aker, get off at Keizersgracht. From here it's a 2 minute walk.
Address: Keizersgracht 452
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10.00 - 17.00 and Sunday 15 September 10.00 - 17.00
How to get there: From Central Station: Tram 2 to Nieuw Sloten, Tram 5 to A'veen Binnenhof, Tram 1 to Osdorp de Aker, get off at Keizersgracht. From here it's a 2 minute walk.
6. KORENMETERSHUISJE
This guild house from 1620 in one of the few guild houses left in Amsterdam. It is an example of Dutch Renaissance architecture, which is different from regular Renaissance because it has less Gothic influences. I love the old Dutch feel this building has, with the red window shutters and the stairs that go up to the main entrance.
Address: Nieuwezijds Kolk 28
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10.00 - 17.00
How to get there: From Central Station: Tram 2 to Nieuw Sloten, Tram 5 to A'veen Binnenhof, Tram 13 to Geuzenveld, get off at Nieuwezijds Kolk. From here it's a 2 minute walk.
Address: Nieuwezijds Kolk 28
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10.00 - 17.00
How to get there: From Central Station: Tram 2 to Nieuw Sloten, Tram 5 to A'veen Binnenhof, Tram 13 to Geuzenveld, get off at Nieuwezijds Kolk. From here it's a 2 minute walk.
7. FELIX MERITIS
Aaand another canal house. But this one looks very different from the outside ;). It's a Classical building, which the Corinthian columns and sandstone façade show. Inside you can find impressive Ionic columns. You can also visit the observatory - it's the oldest one in the city.
Address: Keizersgracht 324
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10.00 - 17.00
How to get there: From Central Station: Tram 2 to Nieuw Sloten, Tram 5 to A'veen Binnenhof, Tram 1 to Osdorp de Aker, get off at Keizersgracht, get off at Spui (Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal). From here it's a 6 minute walk.
Address: Keizersgracht 324
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10.00 - 17.00
How to get there: From Central Station: Tram 2 to Nieuw Sloten, Tram 5 to A'veen Binnenhof, Tram 1 to Osdorp de Aker, get off at Keizersgracht, get off at Spui (Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal). From here it's a 6 minute walk.
And that was Amsterdam for ya! For all other open monuments, check: http://www.openmonumentendag.nl/open-monumentendag-english-summary/
Come back tomorrow for... Utrecht!
*disclaimer
1st photo borrowed from here, 2nd photo borrowed from here, 3rd photo borrowed from here, 4th photo borrowed from here, 5th photo borrowed from here, 6th photo borrowed from here, 7th photo borrowed from here.
Come back tomorrow for... Utrecht!
*disclaimer
1st photo borrowed from here, 2nd photo borrowed from here, 3rd photo borrowed from here, 4th photo borrowed from here, 5th photo borrowed from here, 6th photo borrowed from here, 7th photo borrowed from here.
RSS Feed