I found the style of houses in Holland fascinating on our trip there earlier this year. Many are centuries old and delightfully crooked. There are wonderful roof lines, interesting windows and doors and beautiful decoration.
This one was my favourite.
Click here, here, here, here, here and here to see more on amazing Amsterdam and Haarlem, or look in the Holland category for all of the posts.
What a beautiful glimpse into a place I’d love to visit. I’ve enjoyed the Dutch architecture I’ve seen in Curacao and South Africa.
By: Erica Preo on November 23, 2012
at 1:01 pm
We went to Amsterdam and Haarlem earlier this year and loved both cities.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 24, 2012
at 9:19 am
Debra, another beautiful visual treat. Our youngest, who is studying architecture is very interested in this. Thanks for sharing, ciao, Carina
By: anyone4curryandotherthings on November 23, 2012
at 1:20 pm
The architecture in Amsterdam and Haarlem was amazing.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 24, 2012
at 9:20 am
I was in Amsterdam at the weekend, and was simply in awe of the beautiful architecture. Such a lovely city. Great photos!
By: Jane on November 23, 2012
at 1:35 pm
Amsterdam is a wonderful city to visit, we had a great time there.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 24, 2012
at 9:20 am
Gorgeous. I’ve been to Amsterdam once but that was a long time ago. It’s nice to see it again.
By: Eagle-Eyed Editor on November 23, 2012
at 1:43 pm
Amsterdam is a fascinating city, we loved it.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 24, 2012
at 9:21 am
I never got as far as holland but I adore those red shutters, now how could i incorporate those into my Tiny Nanny Coupe? wonderful collection! c
By: cecilia on November 23, 2012
at 2:01 pm
I am sure there is a way. The red shutters are beautiful and functional.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 24, 2012
at 9:22 am
The functional is the bit that seals the deal for me, especially with the storms out here.. morning debra.. c
By: cecilia on November 24, 2012
at 11:24 am
Hi Debra,
Holland– land of my ancestors. I stopped for a few days in Amsterdam and Haarlem in August and was totally charmed And this thought ran through my head: Boo-hoo, why did my ancestors have to emigrate to the US?
Did you take some of these shots in Haarlem? (Some of the buildings with red shutters look familiar.) xxxxxxx
By: jann on November 23, 2012
at 2:55 pm
Most of the photos were taken in Amsterdam and some were indeed taken in Haarlem. We loved both cities.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 24, 2012
at 9:23 am
Love how Art Deco rubs shoulders with Traditional 🙂 Gorgeous set of images Debra!
By: Madhu on November 23, 2012
at 5:06 pm
Thank you. I think the old and the new work well together.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 24, 2012
at 9:23 am
Absolutely beautiful! Thanks, Debra.
By: mulino dominillo on November 23, 2012
at 5:17 pm
I hope we go back to Holland one day and see more of this gorgeous country.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 24, 2012
at 9:24 am
I love the buildings of Amsterdam, my husband and I particularly loved the dark coloured houses with the white window frames (pic 4) and wished we could have a similar home here. The architecture is very different to ours, even though some look crammed together they are still so much more appealing than the modern estates we have in Australia. Thanks for taking me back to such an amazing city 🙂
By: twoblackdoggies on November 23, 2012
at 8:32 pm
We can’t compete with centuries of building. Many of these houses are very old indeed.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 24, 2012
at 9:25 am
How cool. My aunt and uncle live in Brussels where the houses are very similar.
Hope you have a great weekend.
Hugs,
Kathy
By: Kathryn McCullough on November 23, 2012
at 10:09 pm
We went to Belgium for a day, to Antwerp, and the buildings were similar there too.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 24, 2012
at 9:25 am
What an amazing array of houses – all equally lovely.
By: Just Add Attitude on November 23, 2012
at 11:22 pm
The one at the end that I liked so much was in the most beautiful location beside the canal.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 25, 2012
at 3:48 am
I remember seeing several houses with red shutters when I was in Amsterdam last spring. I wonder if it was the same houses as in your photos. They are quite distinctive.
I learned an interesting fact about the hooks atop many of the homes, which you can see in your photos. They were often used to hoist goods up to the attic or upper floors rather than bringing the items through the ground floor and up the stairs.
By: Jackie Cangro on November 24, 2012
at 2:35 am
The hooks were the first things I noticed in Amsterdam. I wrote a post called Hooked on Amsterdam on May 15 this year.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 24, 2012
at 9:05 am
Gorgeous, the architecture is stunning.
By: petit4chocolatier on November 24, 2012
at 2:50 am
Amsterdam and Haarlem were both wonderful cities to explore.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 25, 2012
at 3:49 am
They’re beautiful, like the houses of storybooks. What amazed me when I lived there, was how small some of the houses were inside (especially staircases) and how TALL the people are. My apartment was on two levels. I had a key to the part with the bedroom/bathroom. And a key to the upstairs door (living room/kitchen)…I ran around all day, up and down, carrying my keys. It was a beautiful place. Thanks for this beautiful reminder…
By: The Daily Cure on November 24, 2012
at 8:21 am
Dutch people do seem to be quite tall. It must be a bit cramped in some of those tiny houses.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 24, 2012
at 10:23 am
J’adore Flemish architecture Debra.
By: Paris Rendez-vous on November 24, 2012
at 8:54 am
Me too, the designs are very distinctive.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 25, 2012
at 3:50 am
The red shutters are exquisite Debra. I’d not seen them before. I want some!
By: janinevasta on November 24, 2012
at 11:20 am
They are quite different from our green slatted shutters in Italy. I love both.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 24, 2012
at 11:56 pm
i love pic no. 4, 7, 8, 19, 20, & 24,..^^,..sooooo cute!!!
By: carmoo on November 24, 2012
at 1:26 pm
I found Amsterdam and Haarlem fascinating.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 24, 2012
at 11:58 pm
Most of the houses are so tall and skinny. Love the architecture!
By: Karen on November 24, 2012
at 2:22 pm
Some of the houses seem impossibly narrow. I would love to see inside.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 24, 2012
at 11:58 pm
I know what you mean…I don’t think some of them are more than 10 feet wide. Lots of stairs to climb, as well.
By: Karen on November 25, 2012
at 12:16 am
So many windows! I love how some of them are crooked. 😀
By: rommel on November 24, 2012
at 7:17 pm
By: Debra Kolkka on November 24, 2012
at 11:59 pm
Ahihihihi…. I was wondering what to put…. Some? most? Thanks for the clarification. This is exactly why I put Armsterdam as one of my top 5…. Really fascinating things about it.
By: rommel on November 25, 2012
at 3:19 am
Love this wonderful selection, Debra. So many windows to clean. 🙂
By: adinparadise on November 25, 2012
at 2:52 am
That would not be much fun at all.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 25, 2012
at 3:46 am
Gotta love this images, which were a great reminder to my few days in Amsterdam this fall. Thanks bringing smiles!
By: aFrankAngle on November 25, 2012
at 11:00 am
Amsterdam is full of amazing things. We would love to go back.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 25, 2012
at 10:54 pm
Absolutely!
By: aFrankAngle on November 26, 2012
at 11:44 am