Wandering through the streets and old districts of the city is a treat. Often when you turn the corner you find something unexpected. One of these amazing finds are the gevelstenen. Gevelstenen are unique tiles installed on the historic buildings. If you look a little higher than where your normal line of sight is, you will discover these beautifully decorated gevelstenen! These gems are frequently above the doors or on the corner of the building.

The oldest one that can be viewed today is from 1546! This can be found on the NH Collection Barbizon Palace. It is located between the second-floor windows to the right of the sign bearing the name of the hotel. Each of these tiles are intricate, different, and very unique. Some have bright colors, while others are dull. Yet, each of these hold a story. Some of them were used to indicate which commercial district you were in where others reflect Dutch morals. These façades served as early billboards, telling who resided there, or political stances. It is estimated that up to 10% of all of them were created using religious symbolisms. The last “old” façade was created in 1795. Until housing numbering was fully established around 1800, these were the best indicators of where you were!

Today, these beautiful facades are being refurbished, and new ones are being created. As such, you are sure to find so many more of these beautiful, unique pieces of artwork among the city. The gevelstenen truly reflect the Dutch people and their past heritage.

Have fun wandering the streets on your own and finding these amazing and beautiful pieces of art and history!

For further information about these wonderful art pieces, click HERE.