Scheepvaarthuis

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Exterior only

Visible from the street; the inside is private.

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Situated on the Prins Hendrikkade at the western tip of Waalseiland near Amsterdam harbour, the Scheepvaarthuis is a landmark office building erected in two phases—1913–1916 and 1926–1928—by architects Joan van der Mey, Piet Kramer, and Michel de Klerk. Built on the historical site where Cornelis Houtman's first voyage to the East Indies departed in 1595, it stands as the first true exemplar of the Amsterdam School, a style defined by expressive dynamism, lavish ornamentation, and colourful embellishments. Originally serving as headquarters for six major Amsterdam shipping companies—including the Netherlands Steamship Company, Royal Packet Navigation Company, Java-China-Japan Line, and Royal Dutch Steamboat Company—the building is recognized as one of the top 100 Dutch heritage sites and designated a Rijksmonument.