The monumental quality of the Amsterdam city centre is largely determined by numerous 17th and 18th century houses, once owned by wealthy merchants and prominent citizens. Moreover, the warehouses deserve mention. Amsterdam warehouse architecture is unique in the world. Most of the state controlled monuments, however, are dwellings. The ring of canals is the location of approx. 2,200 buildings, 1,550 of which are listed as historic buildings. Amsterdam’s beauty is largely determined by the style of these buildings, better described as “citizens’ architecture". The choice of this style was a conscious one. The aim of the people of Amsterdam is to replace the Gothic style with its vertical accents and religious overtones by a profane Classicist style. The Royal Palace e.g. contains many supreme examples of symbolism derived from Classical Antiquity.



Amsterdam is not a city of churches and palaces, but of monumental mansions. The only two houses in Amsterdam worthy of the name palace are the Royal Palace in the Dam Square and the Trippenhuis. And even these two were not commissioned by royalty or aristocratic clientele. Originally, the Royal Palace was designed to serve as Amsterdam’s town hall and the Trippenhuis was built for wealthy citizens.

In the second half of the 19th century this monumental body of Amsterdam was severely threatened. Canals were filled in, streets were widened and bridges lowered. Many exceptional buildings were pulled down in the process of restructuring the city.

In the 1950s plans were made to fill in canals and pull down historical buildings. Fortunately, these plans were only partially realized. The Jodenbreestraat was widened and alike policy were made with respect to the Sint Antoniebreestraat. However, the successful restoration of the important Huis De Pinto proved a turning point.

Large-scale projects affecting the historical city centre in order to accommodate the needs of modern traffic are no longer to be anticipated. The monumental mansions which underwent drastic alterations during the 19th and 20th centuries, when many of them were turned into offices, are now being restored to their original residential functions. Since the Municipal Department for the Preservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites was founded in 1953, over 4,000 premises underwent restoration. Almost 10% of these projects were completed.

About 20,000 buildings make up the historical city centre. One third was built before 1850. Approximately 6,700 “national monuments" (i.e. historic buildings preserved by the national government authority) are located in this area, whereas another 290 “municipal monuments" are preserved by the Amsterdam council. A further 1,160 buildings fall outside these categories. They are labeled “original premises" because of their intrinsic cultural historical interest. The Amsterdam city centre is eligible for a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. After all, Amsterdam is the proud owner of one of the most important intact historical city centers of the world.

The historic buildings are lovingly restored and saved from destruction. The ring of canals is to become once more the stylish residential area it once was.