Amsterdam School, an architecture tour, on bike or on foot

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The P.L. Takstraat, one of the top sites of the Amsterdam school architecture. End of December 2013.

"Thanks a lot for the tour and the photos. Ik have received many positive reactions gehad,everybody loved it!" Sanne (who organized it).

 

 

A wonderful tour with an architecture specialist, a local art historian

for a walk or bike ride along the famous Amsterdamse School architecture scattered through town.

Specific attention for architecture from the period 1910-1930 featuring expressive patterns in brick, and additional ornaments in wrought iron, terracotta, stained glass; and a festive sculptural total facade design.

Idealistic and socially friendly as it brought beauty into the cityscape and promotes art appreciation.

Visits are possible to the exterior of various city building blocks including: 'the Ship' (het Schip) in de Spaarndammer area; the area of P.L. Takstraat/Jozef Israelskade; Vrijheidslaan/Plan Zuid by Berlage area; area of Mercatorplein; area of Roelof Hartplein, area of Minervalaan; and more.

 

Includes impressive single buildings such as Scheepvaarthuis (photo); the office at the axis of Stadhouderskade/Overtoom; the extravagant building near Central Station, the Hardware store Gunters & Meuser in Jordaan/ Prinsengracht.

Especially for architecture buffs!

 

 

 

 

 

Tours executed by a gifted, enthused tour guide. Guided quality tour by scholar-lecturer, art historian Drs. Kees Kaldenbach*

During this tour which may be done by taxi, bicycle or on foot we will discover the hot-spots which connect us with great architects and ideas from the past. Dutch version.

Complete Listing of tours

On top and below : Amrath Hotel, now situated within the Shipping House (Scheepvaarthuis), photo Kaldenbach. The Scheepvaarthuis was the grand, festive headquarters of six shipping agencies in Amsterdam. Built 1913-1916 - the concrete skeleton designed by the brothers Van Gendt. Sculptural treatment of the facade and interior in brick, terracotta, wrought iron, stained glass after designs by J.M. van der Mey assisted by M. de Klerk and P.L. Kramer. Visits to some parts of the interior are possible: breakfast room, stairwell.

 

Sculpture at entrance steps, photo Kaldenbach. Memorial to the many journeys to the Far East (now Indonesia), the Indian Ocean, visited by the heroes 'helden' of the VOC.

And now moving to the side, along the Binnenkant gracht.


Sculpture at the side of the building., photo Kaldenbach. Abbreviations indicate some of the shipping agencies inside: JCJL = Japan China Japan Lijn; KPM = Koninklijke Paketvaart Maatschappij; SMN = Stoomvaart Maatschappij Nederland. Material used: brick, natural stone, terracotta, tropical wood.

 

Looking upward in the stariwell, photo Kaldenbach. Material used: stucco, wrought iron, tropical wood. "If you are willing to pay for details - you get details" (quote by Rem Koolhaas)

 

The Ship (Het Schip), photo Internet. Design of city blocks by Michiel de Klerk, 1914-1921. From this point of view the building is wonderfully mirror symmetric. Originally conceived as school building + homes. Now including Museum Het Schip.

 

Het Schip, last job in restoration; photo Kaldenbach.

 

 

During our walks we will closely observe Dutch traditions in masonry and brickwork. What do you think of this repair job in the alley called Roskamsteeg?

Client response:

On 22 April 2017, my wife and I got a new understanding on Amsterdam with private tour guided by Kees Kaldenbach although we lived in this beautiful city for several years.
四月二十七号,Kees Kaldenbach为我和妻子单独导游了阿姆斯特丹。尽管我们在这座美丽城市生活过多年,我们依然从这次导游中对马姆斯特丹有了新的认识。

We have a specific interest on Amsterdam School. Through Wikipedia regarding Amsterdam School, we found this specialized tour regarding Amsterdam School operated by Kees.
由于我们的特定兴趣,从Wikipedia我们发现了Kees提供的阿姆斯特丹建筑学派导游活动。

We communicated our specific interest to Kees weeks prior to the tour.
出发前我们和Kees沟通了我们的兴趣。

When we met up with Kees, he already did his research in public archive and relevant websites. The findings are very much exceeding my expectation and helped me tremendously for the understanding of Amsterdam School and our specific interests.
当我们见到Kees,他已经从公众档案和有关网页收集有关资料。这些资料超出我们的预期,帮助我们对阿姆斯特丹学派有了非常多的了解。

We enjoyed the tour because of high enthusiasm and broad knowledge of Kees regarding Amsterdam School and this fabulous city!
Kees热情洋溢的讲解和他对阿姆斯特丹学派的知识让我们非常享受这次游览!

No doubt that Kees guides professional tours.
Kees导游是非常高的专业水平。

But if you have specific interests or requirements on the area or Amsterdam School, please tell and hire Kee. He is able to address your needs in a way that no others could do better!
如果你对阿姆斯特丹市或阿姆斯特丹建筑学派有兴趣,请告诉和聘请Kees。他可以有针对性的安排私人游览项目,水平无人可及!

Wei Zhang.

Attentive crowd while Drs Kaldenbach is lecturing.

Complete Listing of tours

 

Tours available in English, Dutch, German.

 


Powerpoint presentation of Amsterdam.
Powerpoint presentation of Athens.
Powerpoint presentation of Barcelona.
Powerpoint presentation of Berlin.
Powerpoint presentation of Copenhagen.
Powerpoint presentation of Florence.
Powerpoint presentation of Helsinki.
Powerpoint presentation of Istanbul.
Powerpoint presentation of Naples.
Powerpoint presentation of Rome.
Powerpoint presentation of Split.
Powerpoint presentation of Stockholm.
Powerpoint presentation of St. Petersburg, Russia.
Powerpoint presentation of Venice
Menu presentation of walks and museum visits in Towns in Holland.

 

Amsterdam is the uncrowned capital of The Netherlands. The beauty of the city center is the result of many centuries of careful city planning. It boasts the most wonderfully preserved group of canals and ancient canal houses found anywhere in the world. In the center we find the headquarters of the United East India Company, pivot of international trade and source of great wealth in the 17th century. Dutch painter Rembrandt, prince of painters, and prolific etcher, draughtsman also made his home here and catered to the wealthy merchants.

A number of important museums including the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum are also located here. A dozen of other museums are well worth visiting, including the Rembrandt house.

On Dam square, from which this town on the Amstel river originally got its name, is the former Town Hall, now Royal Palace. Next to it stands the late mediaeval New Church, now mainly serving as an exhibition hall. A five-minute walk going east takes us to the large Old Church in the middle of the Red Light District.

As a reference manual I use the famous d’Ailly historical handbook during the Amsterdam walks.

 

As an art historian based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, I can meet you in Amsterdam for a personalized guided tour of art museums and the historic center.

Together we will experience the beauty and history. Enjoy yourself and learn about history while strolling and discussing the country's history, art and culture. In doing so, we may touch a number of bases - spanning not only fine art and architecture but also the city's history and current social issues. See client testimonials.

Read a Kaldenbach biography.

Complete Listing of tours

Starting at your hotel I will take you on a wonderful private cultural walking tour of your choice. My guided itinerary offers you accessable informative conversation in English, Dutch, or German (my French and Italian are more limited).

See Amsterdam in 1842 (Map with dots indicating where the high and mighty lived in Amsterdam, in the seventeenth century)


You may also arrange this VIP treatment for business contacts or friends. Our cultural tour organisation office will take care of a unique and memorable experience.

Drs. Kees Kaldenbach is your private "scholar-lecturer on culture tours" *.

*Martha Gellhorn, Travels with Myself and another, p. 182.

 

 

 

 

 


Please contact me for time and fees of the tailor-made tour you ar interested in.

These tailor made tours are available upon request - please contact me to book a date. Minimum group size: 1 person. Maximum group size is limited to about 10 persons. With a megaphone I can also manage larger groups on the streets.

 

 


Complete Listing of tours

 

Photo by Dick Martin.

 

Visit a large architectural cultural site on Amsterdam at Startamsterdam.com

 

Old maps on http://watwaswaar.nl


Endorsements

The Rijksmuseum has done me the honor of linking the main Rijksmuseum site to my website. Start at www.rijksmuseum.nl and select Collection. Then choose 'Digital Collaboration' and the 'Digital Vermeer House'.

I conduct Rembrandt walks in Amsterdam for the Netherlands Bureau of Tourism, London and New York City offices. Their clients include important journalists.

The travel site www.luxurytraveler.com has devoted a main feature to my tours and walks.

Read further client testimonials.


 

About Drs. Kees Kaldenbach:

Read a biography.

Drs. Kees Kaldenbach has been featured in television and radio documentaries, including BBC2 TV, NTV Japan, Danish TV and Radio Netherlands World Service. In July 2004 he was interviewed about Delft artists by Tetsuya Tsuruhara for the leading Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun. In 2004 and 2005 he acted in an advisory role to additional BBC teams. Kaldenbach has written extensively on Vermeer and 17th century Delft, on Vincent van Gogh and on other art history topics.

Drs. Kees Kaldenbach is your private "scholar-lecturer on culture tours".

Further information is available on his encyclopedic web site: www.johannesvermeer.info

 

Contact information:

Drs. Kees Kaldenbach , kalden@xs4all.nl

Haarlemmermeerstraat 83 hs

1058 JS Amsterdam

The Netherlands

telephone 020 - 669 8119 (from abroad NL +20 - 669 8119)

cell phone 06 - 2868 9775 (from abroad NL +6 - 2868 9775)

 

 

Reaction, questions? Read client testimonials.

Open seven days a week.

Member of the VVV Tourist information and the Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel).

 

 

Email responses and bookings to art historian Drs. Kees Kaldenbach.

This page forms part of the 2000+ item Vermeer web site at www.xs4all.nl/~kalden

Launched 9 Feb 2011. Updated 14 february, 2017.