The Amsterdam canals, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010, and always fascinated to the imagination.
Map of Amsterdam with design for the expanded city by Daniel Stalpaert. A. Besnard after Daniel Stalpaert, 1657.
Walther Schoonenberg, an architecture historian, researcher and writer provided with some information regarding the houses at Singel 282-286, national monuments of the city of Amsterdam. He does an exploratory study of our building, of the former residents, of the architectural historical values.
Three houses built in 1590 and were rebuilt with one united façade in 1639, included empire doors and window fences. Interior development: house #284 has 17th-century ceiling paintings, figurative and decorative, from 1630-ish on wooden boards (discovered in 2001), timber frame, beams with key pieces from 1590; house #286: grand corridor with 18th-century stucco in Rococo style, the balustraded staircase included a mahogany, carved dragon with Javanese motifs.
Singel Canal in the snow
Source: Walter Schoonenberg
Carrier: Digital
Year: unknown
Anthonie Oetgens van Waveren (1585-1658), Lord van Waveren
A seven times appointed mayor of the city of Amsterdam.
Anthonie Oetgens van Waveren after the painting by Thomas de Keyser
Source: Amsterdam City Archives
Carrier: Copper engraving after the painting by Thomas de Keyser
Year: Unknown
Anthonie Oetgens van Waveren (1585-1658), Lord van Waveren, Botshol and Ruige Wilnis, was appointed mayor several times in 1626, 1627, 1629, 1631, 1638, 1649 and 1650. He was also a member of the States General (in 1637 and 1655) and Council of the Amsterdam Admiralty in 1652. In 1652 and 1653 he represented the Republic at the court of Christiaan IV, the king of Denmark and Norway. In 1653 he mediated between Sweden and Poland and contributed to the peace treaty between Queen Christina of Sweden and King Johan II Casimir of Poland. He could easily enter these aristocratic circles because he himself had become an aristocrat: in 1624 he had the glories of Waveren, Botshol and Ruige Wilnis van't Chapter of St. Marie purchased in Utrecht and was even elevated to the Holy Roman knighthood in 1635 by Emperor Ferdinand II. In 1631 and 1646 his capital was estimated at fl. 130,000.
Anthonie Oetgens van Waveren: detail of a militia force portrait painted by Nicolaes Lastman and Adriaen van Nieulandt.
Source: Amsterdam Museum
Carrier: Painting
Year: 1623
He is depicted in a special group portrait, one of the few portrayals of the college of four mayors. The portrait shows the moment when the news of the arrival of Maria de Medici in Amsterdam in 1638 is communicated to the mayors. These are Abraham Pietersz Boom, Albert Coenraetsz Burgh, Pieter Pietersz Hasselaer and Anthonie Oetgens van Waveren.
His father Frans Hendricksz (1558-1625) has been mayor ten times since 1610 and is known as one of the initiators of the Amsterdam canals, to which he and his brother-in-law Barthold Cromhout had enriched himself through land speculation. The issue led to a discussion about whether Oetgens had abused his position to enrich himself at the expense of others. The unbreakable Cornelis Pietersz Hooft (1546-1626) in particular has seriously criticized Oetgens' actions. In 1615 the case was brought up to the Supreme Court, but was eventually settled amicably. Frans Hendricksz first lived on the Damrak, later on the Oude Schans. Son Anthonie still lived in 1611 on the OZ Voorburgwal and in 1637 on the Rokin. Like his father, Anthonie speculated with land, this time on the east side of the city, where the city would be explained (the Fourth Explanation). The council then decided to expropriate all its land. After that he was no longer appointed mayor. His opponents, Cornelis de Graeff and Andries and Cornelis Bicker, prevented that.
The four mayors of Amsterdam painted by Thomas de Keyser.
Source: Amsterdam Museum
Carrier: Painting
Year: 1638
Anthonie bought four houses on the Singel and three behind them (on the Singel, now no. 282-286, including the Moriaenshoofd, in 1624, and on the Herengracht, now no. 247, 249, 251, 253 in 1626). Three these houses on Singel were rebuilt in 1639 and provided with a common façade, designed by the Amsterdam architect Philips Vingboons in the common style of Dutch Classicism (as the City Hall / Royal Palace on the Dam square). The middle part was given a middle portal, crowned by a large triangular pediment (for example the City Hall / Royal Palace) with the family Coat of Arms in the fronton. In this way, Anthonie gave the impression of a much larger house. The middle house, where he went to live, was merged of two buildings, and was not only larger at the front, but also walked past the neighboring buildings. Moreover, the house had a large garden behind of the entire complex, also behind Singel 286-288, which extended to the Herengracht, this situation continued until 1648. The facade is shown in drawings from Philips Vingboons (part I, 1648). According to this source, the house had a great simpleness and modern elegance, since its size broke down, there were three residences in it. The middle house was inhabited by Oetgens himself, he used other two houses as guest’s houses for European aristocratic families and wealthy merchants while when stayed in Amsterdam. Because of the common façade was under a large triangular pediment with his family Coat and Arms, Oetgens lived in one of the widest houses of the city of Amsterdam.
The book of original technical drawings and sketches made by the architect Philips Vingboons, and published by his brother in 1665.
Source: The National Archives of the Netherlands
Carrier: Drawing, digital photo by Diana Tozzi
Year: original 1665, book digital photo 2018
Presentation drawing front facade from Figures I, 1638.
Source: Philips Vingboons
Carrier: Drawing
Year: 1638
One of the famous architects in Dutch heritage, Philips Vingboons (1607-1678), redesigned the façade of Singel 282-286 (1639) in Dutch Classicism style. It was built in front of older houses with a late 16th century plan (1590) and became the biggest residential complex in Amsterdam of 16th century.
The 16th century beams with decoratively carved corner pieces and the center element of the wooden ceiling painted with gold and contains Oetgens’s Family Coat and Arms.
The interior of the house of Oetgens has been preserved. The timber gold frame and key pieces adorned with acanthus leaves on the first floor ceiling are still present, as well as original beams from 1590. This creates an exceptionally representative oak ceiling of which no other examples are known in the Netherlands. Also it is worth mentioning, the beautiful floor consists of ten meter long wide pine parts. The ceiling painting was discovered in 2001 when removing a stucco ceiling. The painting consists of three sections with tendrils, flower garlands and putti whose hold up the Coat of Arms. A painted family Coat of Arms displays the Waveren’s glory in Dutch history. This example shows that, in addition to flowers and tendrils, figurative ceiling paintings were made with angels and animal figures in this period. The tendrils and garlands are strongly reminiscent of the ceiling paintings in the City Hall / Royal Palace on Dam Square. It is not known when these paintings were made, but they were probably only applied after the death of Anthonie Oetgens van Waveren in 1658, commissioned by his sons Johan (1613-1670) and Nicolaes (1622-1684) who divided the house among themselves.
Johannes Hudde (1628-1704)
A nineteen times appointed mayor of the city of Amsterdam.
The house has had even more famous residents. After Johan's death, his wife, Debora Blaeuw, remarried in 1673 to Johannes Hudde (1628-1704), her neighbor, who moved in with her. Hudde was first appointed mayor in 1672 and was reappointed 18 more times. He is best known for the construction of the Amstel locks and the establishment of the Amsterdam Peil (see Eenhoornsluis).
Daniel de Dieu (1696-1765)
A six times appointed mayor of the city of Amsterdam.
Oval portrait with caption: "Mr. Daniel de Dieu, Mayor and Council of the City of Amsterdam. Former Ambassador of the State to the Russian Court."
Source: Amsterdam City Archives
Carrier: Copper engraving by Jacobus Houbraken (1698-1780) after a portrait of Hendrik Pothoven (1725? -1807) published by Isaac Tirion
Year: 1757
In the 18th century a new mayor owned the houses Singel 282-286, Daniel de Dieu (1696-1765). Former Ambassador of the Netherlands to the Russian Court (since 1730), Council of the Amsterdam Admiralty. After his first appointment in 1753 as a mayor, he was reappointed five more times.
The complex has been radically changed by various renovations according to new fashion with French influence. Not only the large pediment disappeared, the lower fronts have also changed beyond recognition. Only part of the 17th-century rustica base of the middle house, the house of Oetgens, has been preserved. In 19th century, the right-hand house no.286 received a new modern base wider than the original. Many original details were discovered in 2018 by new owners Tozzi, during restoration work. The wooden wall panels, entrance door, gyp’s decors, arched ceiling and 4m marble fireplace were preserved by National Monuments Department of Amsterdam. On records of the National database, there are only 6 fireplaces in similar style (floor-to-ceiling stone).
Nowadays, the largest house: part of the house of Anthonie Oetgens van Waveren, Singel 284, has been moved to Singel 282. Fortunately, most of the facade has been preserved, including the window frames with volutes and the triangular pediment above the windows. The heavy cornice is probably still original. Note that the middle riser has been extended to the cornice. The façade has no pilasters.
Later on, the entire plan of Singel 286 has been altered. The front door went more to the left, making the entrance narrower, and the front room wider so two windows could be placed, according to new fashions. Since 19th century (Napoleon’s period of time), the Bel-Erage floor has been converted into the Fabrics salon with two large floor-to-ceiling product-display windows, the basement used as a storage. Also, on the land of back-garden was built a new back-house with oversized windows for the Atelier, clothes tailoring facility, serving needs of new residents of the Royal Palace. The top floor rooms were divided to two apartments.
Daniel de Dieu was related to Carel de Dieu (sibling), who lived in Alkmaar in Huize Egmont, http://huizeegmont.nl/, which has some great similarities with the foyer and the hallway of Singel 286.
Canal House at Singel 286, Restoration Project
Source: Diana Tozzi, Architect
Carrier: Digital, Rendering
Year: 2018
Grand Corridor of Singel 286, Restoration Work Process
Ceiling Gyp’s Decor and stucco in Rococo style, mid of the 18th century.
Source: Diana Tozzi
Carrier: Digital
Year: 2018
Emporio Stone Marble fireplace, mid of the 18th century,
Restored and preserved in 2018. One of six fireplaces on the National database.
Wall wooden panels are restored and preserved in 2018.
Mahogany, hand-carved dragon with Javanese motifs on the oak staircase, 17th century.
Source: Diana Tozzi
Carrier: Digital, Rendering
Year: 2018
This was an emotional moment and very personal attachment when you hold in your hands 400 years old drawings collected in the one-of-a-kind book-artifact, which brings you into the world of the architect Philips Vingboons who designed and built your house in 1638 and created brand new architectural fashion “Dutch Classicism” in European history and made outstanding look of many Canal Houses.