Scheepvaarthuis
At the western tip of Waalseiland, the Scheepvaarthuis—the Dutch “Shipping House”—connects two eras of Amsterdam maritime power in one complex. The site is remembered for the beginning of Cornelis Houtman’s first East Indies voyage in 1595, and the building that rises here is widely regarded as the first true example of Amsterdam School architecture, a style known for expressive dynamism, lavish ornamentation, and colourful embellishments. Construction came in two phases: 1913 to 1916 for the first part, then 1926 to 1928 for the second. Originally, it served as the headquarters for six major Amsterdam shipping companies, including SMN, KPM, JCJL, and KNSM, as well as NRM and the acquired in 1912 Royal West India Mail Service (KWIM). The design was entrusted to the van Gendt brothers for the concrete frame and technical execution, while Joan van der Mey is associated with the project’s architectural authorship. …
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