Het Huis met den Hoofden
The House with the Heads, or Huis met de Hoofden, is a Renaissance canal house that anchors the Keizersgracht at number 123. Built in 1622, the façade is attributed to Hendrick de Keyser, though it’s likely completed by his son Pieter after Hendrick’s death in 1621. The six head ornaments on the façade give the house its memorable name, and they’re believed to symbolize deities like Apollo, Ceres, Mercury, Minerva, Bacchus, and Diana rather than thieves. This Rijksmonument has a rich lineage: Nicolaas Sohier commissioned the house, and after personal tragedy he sold it in 1634 to Louis de Geer, a prominent entrepreneur. For generations the De Geer family used the building as a hub for exchange—trade, science, philosophy, and culture—drawing visitors ranging from Comenius to members of the Elsevier clan, with Spinoza possibly among their guests. …
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