Canal housegardens of amsterdam

the hidden green of the City

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yMuseum Van Loon

What lies hidden behind the age-old houses along the Amsterdam canals?

From the rich Golden Age with its merchants, tulip frenzy and collectors of exotic plants and novelties unto the present day: four centuries of garden history are described in a nutshell within this book. Splendid photography of the canal gardens in all seasons illustrate the various topics.

In only two weekends a year one has the opportunity to get acquainted with this world of green: the Amsterdam Tulip Days in April and the Open Garden Days in June. A number of gardens is open to the public year round. After reading this book your only wish will be to discover whether this luscious greenery is indeed as delightful as expected.

11

Canal house gardens of amsterdam

the hidden green of the City

saskia albreCht tonko grever

4

Preface

In 2013, Amsterdam celebrated the 400th anniversary of its canal beltway. Countless books have been published, dealing either with the origin of the canals or the illustrious residents of the canal houses. It is gladdening that finally a book covering four centuries of canal-house garden history sees the light.

For all these centuries, the city of Amsterdam has been renowned internationally for its tolerant and hospitable character—a hospitality that is applied to widely divergent domains, and granted to all. As such, it befits the city’s history to open our most hidden and exclusive gardens to you, the visitor. The Amsterdam Tulip Days in April, and the Open Garden Days in June each offer a unique opportunity for you to become acquainted with this verdant world. A number of these gardens are accessible to the public all year round.For me, the importance of these events is not just to open these spaces to garden lovers but to invite every visitor walking through the gardens to bear in mind the open and hospitable history of this city.

The garden of the mayor’s residence, located on the Herengracht since 1927, is also opened each year. With the many mayors and their families that have preceded me, innumerable national and international guests, officials, politicians and Amsterdam residents have all walked through this garden, during gatherings at cheerful or sorrowful moments in the history of this city. Despite this continuity, the function of the mayor’s garden changes as with the seasons, something that also applies to my family and myself. In the weeks following the Open Garden Days, this space transforms from ornamental garden into a playground with features and corners to delight any child; a place where childhood memories are built and kept.Finally, to all the inhabitants that unselfishly open up their gardens, which they preserve and maintain with such dedication, our heartfelt thanks. Long may it be so.

Mr. E.E. van der LaanMayor of Amsterdam

The hidden Green of The ciTy

6

Table of conTenTs

Preface by Mayor Mr. eberhard van der laan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

The call of The hidden Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

early days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Geometric Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

imitation and folly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Tulipomania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

symmetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

in the shade of Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

The canal house Garden is a ProducT of hisTory . . . . 31

new Ways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

a Mirroring Plane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

exotic Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

decoration and ornaments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

sundials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Topiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

MuseuM Gardens on The canals of aMsTerdaM . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Museum van loon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

biblical Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

huis Marseille Photography foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

foaM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Museum Willet-holthuysen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

The Museum of the amsterdam canals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Museum Geelvinck hinlopen huis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Museum of bags and Purses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

hermitage amsterdam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

coloPhon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

The hidden Green of The ciTy

88 canal house Gardens of aMsTerdaM

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the Call of the hidden

green

Anyone that ever read F.H. Burnetts novel ‘The Secret Garden’ might recognise the appeal that a blank wall can exert, and the irresistible desire to see what lies behind. The cheerful events going along with it will be ever familiar. Few things indeed are such an invitation to reckless behaviour as a high wall with luscious green springing over it. Whoever is caught dangling from such a wall, or with cheeks pressed between the boards of a wooden fence, will at best raise the impression of being an eccentric searching for a lost paradise. Still, it will be hard to resist next time, and the discovery of a green oasis at the other side of the wall is a peaceable conquest that will remain in the mind for years. Incidentally, the word paradise is derived from the Old Persian pairadaeza, meaning fence, or walled garden. Hence desires and meanings coincide wonderfully.On Amsterdam’s splendid canals the curious stroller guesses at an intriguing world of green peace behind the stern façades, but perching on walls or fences is surely out of the question: the city blocks are sealed off on all sides, leaving the canal-house residents the only ones to enjoy this hidden greenery. At least, that’s how it had been for centuries. For many years now, the canal-house gardens have been open to limited access by the public. This initiative, began by a couple of intrepid ladies, has now grown into a prominent event. Each year in the third weekend of June, the the garden lovers can rejoice, when around thirty ‘secret’ gardens are opened, giving an insight into four centuries of history. Among them are formal historical gardens with parterres de broderie, romantic private gardens with voluptuous plantings, and architect-designed ornamental office gardens. Yet, all gardens share a common historical past, which in many cases is a definitive, and sometimes a restrictive, characteristic.

The call of The hidden Green

Museum Van LoonKeizersgracht 6721017 ET Amsterdamtel +31(0)20.6245255www.museumvanloon.nl

coloPhon

Publishing: WBOOKS, Zwolle / Museum Van Loon, Amsterdaminfo@wbooks.com / info@museumvanloon.nl

Text:Saskia Albrecht and Tonko GreverGraphic design:Maarten Evenhuis

Completely revised edition 2014First edition 2005

Photo credits: Cris Toalo Olivares: cover, 6, 16-17, 24-25, 26, 34-35, 36-37, 39, 40, 43, 45, 53, 56-57, 59, 65, 66-67, 70-71Tom Elst: 4, 19, 21, 23, 29, 44, 46-47, 60Peter Kooijman: 8, 30John Marshall: 12-13Bas Brummans: 48Lonneke Stulen: 63Rijksmuseum: 10, 22Museum Van Loon: 27

All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photography, recording, or any other information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the copyright holders. The publisher have made every effort to acknowledge the copyright of illustrations in this book. Should any person, despite this, feel that an omission has been made, they are requested to inform the publisher of this fact.

© 2014 WBOOKS, Zwolle / Museum Van Loon, Amsterdam

ISBN 978946258028 2NUR 425, 693

Canal housegardens of amsterdam

the hidden green of the City

Ca

na

l h

ou

se

ga

rd

en

s o

f a

ms

te

rd

am

th

e h

idd

en

gr

ee

n o

f t

he

Cit

yMuseum Van Loon

What lies hidden behind the age-old houses along the Amsterdam canals?

From the rich Golden Age with its merchants, tulip frenzy and collectors of exotic plants and novelties unto the present day: four centuries of garden history are described in a nutshell within this book. Splendid photography of the canal gardens in all seasons illustrate the various topics.

In only two weekends a year one has the opportunity to get acquainted with this world of green: the Amsterdam Tulip Days in April and the Open Garden Days in June. A number of gardens is open to the public year round. After reading this book your only wish will be to discover whether this luscious greenery is indeed as delightful as expected.