Huis aan 3 grachten

In 1610, a grand house arose, gazing upon three canals. This is the Huis aan 3 grachten, or “House on Three Canals”. It stands at the edge of Amsterdam’s Wallen district, a silent observer of centuries of change. The Huis aan 3 grachten isn’t just a house. It’s a testament to Dutch resilience and a keeper of Amsterdam’s secrets. Its three facades, each crowned with a stepped gable, watch over the Grimburgwal, Oudezijds Voorburgwal, and Oudezijds Achterburgwal. The address, if you fancy a visit, is Oudezijds Voorburgwal 249. The house we see today is largely thanks to architect Jan de Meijer. In 1909, he embarked on an ambitious restoration, stripping away centuries of additions. He used a 17th-century painting by Gerrit Berckheyde as his guide, bringing back the original stepped gables and cross-beamed windows. The Huis aan 3 grachten also holds hidden stories within its walls. Two grand fireplaces grace its interior, their origins shrouded in mystery. Were they part of the original structure, or additions from de Meijer’s restoration? We may never know. During World War II, the house became a haven for resistance. It housed the bookstore of August Aimé Balkema, which secretly printed and published poetry and literature. A hidden compartment above a fireplace, discovered during a 2005 renovation, revealed a trove of wartime documents. This secret space may have also sheltered those hiding from the Nazis. The Huis aan 3 grachten continued its life as a bookstore until 2002. It also served as the office of Uitgeverij Huis aan de Drie Grachten, a publishing house specializing in literary and linguistic studies. The house even played a role in preserving the legacy of Dutch writer Multatuli, with the journal “Over Multatuli” published here from 1978. The Huis aan 3 grachten stands as a symbol of Amsterdam’s enduring spirit, a house that has witnessed history unfold from three unique perspectives.