DK Travel : Amsterdam : Architecture

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Schreierstoren

The Schreierstoren (Tower of Tears) is one of Amsterdam’s oldest buildings – a surviving fragment of the medieval city wall.
Spout Gable

This plain triangular gable topped by a spout was used for warehouses, like those at Entrepotdok.
St Nicolaaskerk

Dedicated to the patron saint of seafarers, the church was commissioned by the congregation ofOns’ Lieve Heer op Solder (see Museum Amstelkring). A C Bleys, the architect, came up with a Neo-Renaissance building.
Step Gable

Common from 1600 to 1665, this gable has steps on both sides: Huis op de drie Grachten has three (see A Day in the Oude Zijde).
Triangular Gable

This simple triangularshaped gable can be seen on Het Houten Huis.
Trippenhuis

Justus Vingboons’ grandiose façade with false middle windows (1662) concealed the two separate homes of the powerful Trip brothers – arms dealers, hence the pair of chimneys resembling cannons.
Waalse Kerk

This church – founded in 1409 – is all that is left of the convent of St Paul. Its name means Walloon Church, a reference to the Low Countries (now Belgium), from where Huguenots fled the Catholic terror. In 1586 they were given use of the Waalse Kerk so that they could continue their worship in French. It has a historic organ dating from 1680, renovated in 1734 by master organ builder Christian Müller. The church is a popular concert venue.
Wall Plaque

Before numbering was introduced, houses were identified by plaques (see Courtyard with Wall Plaques, and Wall Plaque on No.19).
Westerkerk

After the Alteration of 1578, the first Dutch Protestant churches to be built were the Zuiderkerk, the Noorderkerk and the Westerkerk – all designed by Hendrick de Keyser. The Westerkerk has the city’s tallest tower, topped by the gaily painted imperial crown of Maximilian of Austria.
Westindisch Huis

The city of New York was conceived in the Dutch West India Company building, and Pieter Stuyvesant’s statue still surveys the courtyard. Built in 1615, its classical proportions belie its origins as a meat market.