Could you believe that a humble pigsty gave rise to a national monument? That’s the story of De Blokhut in Diemen. It is a unique piece of Dutch history. De Blokhut stands as the oldest still-operating gas station in the Netherlands.
Back in 1933 the Smits brothers opened Filling station de Blokhut on the road between Muiden and Amsterdam. The name harkens back to what once stood here. A simple block hut. It was a pigsty. Here at De Blokhut Shell fuel was sold.
In 1936 a service building was added. A clock for advertising followed in 1937. The current building with its service residences arose in 1939. It embraced the New Objectivity style. Barta Jakoba Smits aged two and Arie Smits aged nine laid the first stone on March 24 1939.
In 1971 changes occurred at De Blokhut. The canopy was replaced and an extension demolished. For a while the gas station stood deserted. Then P. Kropman took over turning it into a PK station. Later De Blokhut became a Texaco station. Since September 2018 it has operated as an Esso station.
De Blokhut is located on the Muiderstraatweg near Stammerdijk. It sits just west of the Vinkenbrug. Back in 1939 this was the main road from Amsterdam to Muiden via Diemenbrug. In 1972 the Rijksweg 1 highway opened between Diemen and Knooppunt Diemen. Since then De Blokhut has been situated at the start of this highway. In 1989 the A1 highway section opened between Diemen and Watergraafsmeer. Now the Muiderstraatweg serves as a connecting road. It links the S113 to exit 2 of the A1.
Notice how the gas station sits on a dike. The front presents a single story. The rear reveals a second lower level. Here you will find entrances to the service residences. De Blokhut witnessed a changing landscape.
Consider De Blokhut. It started as a simple fuel stop. It evolved with the times. It adapted to new roads and brands. This gas station is more than just a place to fill up. It is a living monument. It connects us to the early days of motoring in the Netherlands. Its story began with humble roots. It continues to fuel our journeys today.