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In 1672, Jeremias van Raey built two large houses on Keizersgracht. One he occupied himself, the other – No. 672, now the Museum Van Loon – he rented to Rembrandt’s most famous pupil, Ferdinand Bol.

The balustrade was installed by Dr Van Hagen, who had his and his wife’s names incorporated into the ornate brass work. When the canals ceased to freeze over regularly, the 18th-century sledge in the hall found a new use as a plant stand.

Portraits of the Van Loon family are displayed throughout the house.

Jan Molenaer’s first major commission in Amsterdam portrays the whole family. It’s a second marriage: the bride holds her stepson’s hand in an act of acceptance, while the fallen chair symbolizes the groom’s deceased brother.

Laid out in the 1970s according to a plan of the property of 1700, the peaceful garden ends in the false Neo-Classical façade of the coach house. Look carefully and you will see that the upstairs windows are in fact painted, pretty curtains and all.

Rare 18th-century Dutch porcelain and 19th-century Limoges ware grace the dining room.

Over the centuries, five Van Loon couples have celebrated their golden wedding; each had gold coins specially minted.

Painted wallpapers such as these, featuring ruins, Classical buildings and human figures, were very popular in the 1700s.

Painted by J F A Tischbein in 1791, this intimate, relaxed portrait of these Van Loon ancestors is typical of the Age of Enlightenment, conveying love and happiness as well as duty.

Cosy and inviting, the basement kitchen has been recently restored to look as it did in a photograph of 1900.