The Houses of the Seven Nations

Just off the Vondelpark, in the Roemer Visscher­straat, you can find a curious architectural gem: seven adjacent houses, with each house representing an architectural style from a different European country.
In Dutch it is called “Zeven­landen­huizen” (Houses of the Seven Nations).

The street itself is named after Roemer Visscher (1547–1620), a successful Dutch merchant and writer. He was active in the cultural scene of his age — his house on the Gelderse­kade was a place where many famous poets, writers and painters gathered regularly.

Client & Architect

Sam van Eeghen (1853-1934), a Dutch merchant and politician in Amsterdam, commissioned the build of the seven houses from architect Tjeerd Kuipers (1857-1942), who finished the build in 1894. The wealthy Van Eeghen family also played a big part in the creation of the Vondel­park.

In 19th century architecture so-called exotism or exoticism (“the charm of the unfamiliar”) played a big role: the romanticizing of anything foreign, far-away and exotic. The seven houses show the architectural styles of seven nations on their fronts:

Number 20 – Germany

Romantic style from the late 18th early 19th century, with gothic arch windows and tower.

Number 22 – France

Inspired by the Renaissance style of castles in the Loire valley.

Number 24 – Spain

Inspired by islamic Moorish influences from Granada, with pink glazed stone and horseshoe shaped windows. The window shape can still be found in Andalusia.

Number 26 – Italy

Inspired by an Italian palazzo in neo-classic style.

Number 28 – Russia

Inspired by a cathedral with onion-shaped dome, with traces of the Kremlin in Moscow.

Number 30 – Netherlands

House in Dutch Renaissance style, with dark red bricks and white ornamentation above the windows.

Number 30A – England

English cottage style, with classic woodwork.

The country names are above the entrance doors. The houses are Dutch National monuments.
Most houses are private residences, and can not be visited. Number 30A houses the Quentin Hotel.