koopmanshuizen

Koopmanshuizen, singular koopmanshuis, is a term used to describe large urban houses built and occupied by wealthy merchants in the Netherlands and Dutch-speaking regions, especially during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th and 18th centuries. These houses functioned as both residence and place of business, reflecting the commercial wealth generated by global trade and shipping. In many towns and cities, the merchant class built and expanded such houses along canals and main streets.

Typical koopmanshuizen are brick, five or more stories tall, with a prominent, ornate façade. The front is often narrow, facing a street or canal, with large multi-paned sash windows on the upper floors to let in daylight and display wealth. Façades frequently feature decorative gables—stepped, neck, or curved—and might include stone or carved detailing, heraldic shields, and inscriptions. The entrance is reached by a short staircase and often leads to a grand front room or hall.

Behind the front, the ground floor was commonly used for business transactions, storage, and counting rooms, while the upper floors housed living quarters for the merchant and his family. Many houses also included back rooms, courtyards, or outbuildings and storage linked to the canal for easier loading and unloading of goods.

Today, koopmanshuizen are valued as examples of the period’s urban culture and architectural refinement. They form a distinctive element of Dutch canal belts and historic city centers, where many have been preserved, repurposed as residences, offices, or cultural venues.