The Korsjespoortsteeg derives its name from timber merchant Corsgen/Corsgin Jacobzoon, who maintained an orchard here in the 15th century. The city’s development terminated at the Singel’s odd-numbered side, where a city gate provided access across the canal to the orchard. Corsgin resided in the gate tower, presumably serving as gatekeeper. The 1544 Amsterdam map by Cornelis Anthonisz already references the Korsjessteeg, depicting the Korsjes Brug, which remains in situ to this day.

Though now situated in the heart of the city, this street maintains a remarkably liveable character—pedestrian-friendly and particularly amenable to children. Its tranquil atmosphere encourages al fresco dining in summer months, fostering a close-knit community. The canal side streets’ architectural scale remains particularly noteworthy. The buildings largely retain their original residential character, featuring two storeys beneath a pitched roof, with distinguished façades. From the upper floors, one can admire the ornate gable tops and tiled roofs across the street, lending a singular quality to residing here.

Number three exemplifies these self-contained dwellings of elegant proportions. The property encompasses 174 square metres, distributed across front and rear houses connected by an intermediate section. This linking structure, completed in 2005, takes the form of an octagonal turret with windows, providing natural illumination around the generous spiral staircase. The house underwent comprehensive renovation in 2004-2005, including replacement of all utilities, asbestos removal, layout modifications, and installation of two new kitchens and bathrooms. During this renovation, the rear house’s foundation was renewed with concrete-encased piles supporting a concrete slab. Previously, in 1968, the front house’s foundation had been modernised with a concrete floor on foundation beams.

A welcoming entrance hall with cloakroom leads to the spacious kitchen-diner on the ground floor. A large table opposite the fireplace hearth beckons for gatherings of friends and family. The spiral staircase in the intermediate section provides access to both the sitting room on the first floor and the rear house levels. From the sitting room, an elegantly detailed staircase ascends to two bedrooms on the second floor of the front house. The distinctive bathroom with bathtub resides above, nestled under the front house roof. The rear house comprises a shower room with separate water closet and kitchen on the ground floor, two bedrooms on the upper floors, crowned by a roof terrace. Archaeological discoveries during the rear house renovation, such as blue and white decorative tiles with pictorial scenes, have been thoughtfully incorporated into the spaces’ decoration.

What truly distinguishes this residence is its interior finishing. With profound appreciation for materials, patina, and existing historical elements, the house has developed its own distinct character. Age-worn features are celebrated rather than concealed. It eschews clinical partition walls and embraces its architectural quirks.

The house boasts intrinsic period details, including remnants of the 17th-century timber frame in the front house (the frame style remnant in the kitchen and beams with their corbels below), which have been preserved in their original state. This suggests construction during the 17th century, concurrent with this section of the canal belt’s development. Note the distinctive beam arrangements indicating former staircase and chimney locations. The transition beam’s chamfer between the front house and intermediate section further evidences this heritage. The rear house features 18th-century beams. Throughout all spaces, the original beam structure remains exposed, and rooms retain period internal doors. The front house’s rear façade, though timber-clad, appears to project at the upper floor—characteristic of 17th-century construction, likely designed to prevent rainwater running down the façade.

The rear house’s history proves fascinating. Loman’s 1876 map shows the Korsjespoortsteeg back façades aligned along one building line. The current rear house occupied previously undeveloped land behind Singel 88. Between 1876 and 1944, the single-storey rear house was added, as evidenced by an RCE archive site drawing. By 1978, numbers 1 and 3 Korsjespoortsteeg were unified, though subsequently separated between 1978 and 2004. During the 2004-2005 renovation, the rear house was heightened and connected via the stair tower.

The quality of elements introduced by the current owners is exceptional. All floors feature exquisite wooden flooring; the living room boasts planks of remarkable 40cm width and 430cm length. The ground floor comprises various period tiles of different sizes and eras. Kitchens and bathrooms, though modernly designed, harmoniously blend with historical doors and antique furnishings. Each element merits contemplation. The front house bedroom with its exposed high-pitched roof and the bathroom with its generous shower, bath, and views across to opposite façades deserve particular mention. The calibre of finishing and interplay between historical and contemporary elements creates exceptionally comfortable and intriguing spaces.

Every room offers views through period windows with single glazing, creating simultaneous openness and intimacy. The house feels both cosy and spacious, with playful integration of original and additional elements. It functions admirably as either a family home or as separate front and rear accommodations.

The property is a protected national monument (number 3119), described as: “Building with bell gable (18th century) with carved empire shopfront; doors and transom above shop door”. This designation enables advantageous access to residential renovation subsidies from the Cultural Heritage Agency.

As was common practice, only the façade was modernised in the 18th century according to contemporary fashion and placed before the 17th-century front house. The façade features several notable elements: the ground floor’s arch window from its former shop use, the door with elegant mirror panel below and fanlight containing the blue-painted lamb, the upper floor entrance beneath floral-decorated cornicing, six-pane windows on upper floors, and above the shuttered attic window, the bell gable containing the herring stone.

Mid-15th century Amsterdam suffered a devastating fire. Fires proved difficult to control then: Amsterdam houses were predominantly wooden. Consequently, wooden house construction and signage were restricted, leading to stone buildings and the first façade stones. Around 1800, Amsterdam introduced house numbering. Previously, properties were identified by façade stones. These stones served as trade advertisements, referenced builders’ names, or indicated owners’ origins. They conveyed cultural, economic, religious, and political information. While the herring stone isn’t mentioned in the monument registry, possibly added later, it complements all additions to this monument. The result is an extraordinary ensemble in a remarkable urban setting.

Sources:

[1] Jaap Evert Abrahamse, De grote uitleg van Amsterdam, stadsontwikkeling in de zeventiende eeuw, 2010
[2] Henk Zantkuijl, Bouwen in Amsterdam, het woonhuis in de stad, 1993
[3] Haslinghuis – Janse, Bouwkundige termen, verklarend woordenboek van de westerse architectuur- en bouwhistorie, 1997
[4] H. Janse, Amsterdam gebouwd op palen
[5] Rijksmonumentenregister, monumentnummer 3135, Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed
Historic profile and research: Ir. Nanette de Jong
Translation: Joep Hoogerwerf
Photography: Gloria Palmer