Envision Amsterdam in the 17th century. Wealthy arms dealers Louys and Hendrick Trip wanted a home. Not just any home, but the grandest in the city. That vision materialized into what we now know as the Trippenhuis.
The Trippenhuis is a testament to the brothers’ success. Built between 1660 and 1662, it was designed by Justus Vingboons. This stunning canal mansion reflects Dutch classicism at its finest. The facade before you is the widest of any canal house in Amsterdam. It stretches impressively, a symbol of the Trip family’s ambition.
Louys and Hendrick Trip were arms traders. They dealt in weapons, artillery, bullets, munitions, iron and tar. Their business thrived during a time of frequent European wars. The facade of the Trippenhuis subtly reflects their profession. Look closely and you will see weaponry references subtly embedded in the design.
Above the entrance, observe the Trip family coat of arms. Three trip clogs are flanked by cannon barrels and cannonballs. The brothers considered themselves arms dealers of peace. Olive and palm branches decorate the facade. Even the roof boasts corner chimneys shaped like mortars.
Legend says a servant once wished for a house as wide as the Trippenhuis’s front door. One of the Trip brothers supposedly overheard this. So he built a narrow house for the servant. It is called the Little Trippenhuis. It stands across the canal. At only 2.44 meters wide it is one of Amsterdam’s narrowest canal houses. This charming tale is unfortunately just a myth. The Little Trippenhuis was built after both brothers had passed away.
Originally, the Trippenhuis was two mirrored houses behind a single facade. The brothers each occupied one. In 1812, the Royal Institute of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts moved here. This institute was the predecessor to the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. The Trippenhuis became a hub for intellectual activity.
For a time, part of the Trippenhuis housed the national art collection. This was before the Rijksmuseum was built. Rembrandt’s Night Watch once hung here. Vincent van Gogh visited the Trippenhuis frequently to admire the masterpieces. He even brought his friend Harry Gladwell to see it.
In 2020, the renovated Trippenhuis won the Amsterdam Architecture Prize. Today, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences still calls the Trippenhuis home. The Young Academy and the Society of Arts are also located here. This makes the Trippenhuis a center for science, scholarship, and the arts.
The Trippenhuis is more than just a beautiful building. It is a symbol of Amsterdam’s Golden Age. It embodies the ambition and success of the Trip brothers. It has been a center for art, science, and culture for centuries. As you stand before it, imagine the history that has unfolded within its walls. The Trippenhuis stands as a reminder of Amsterdam’s rich and fascinating past.