MUSEUM WILLET-HOLTHUYSEN
Experience how it was to live in one of the most expensive houses in
Herengracht, Amsterdam, back to the Dutch Golden Age era.
So you already visited the main museums in Amsterdam and now you are looking for something different? Then we suggest to visit Herengracht, one of the three main canals in Amsterdam, where rich and high-class people resided. This 17th century canal house at Herengracht 605 was once owned by a wealthy couple, Abraham Willet and Louisa Holthuysen until 1895. In 1896 the house and its wonderful contents passed to the city of Amsterdam and became a museum until now.
Are we the only ones who are curious of how it feels to be rich and to own a canal house in the heart of Amsterdam? At least for an hour or two, we pretended to be The Willets. Entering this house is more than just paying a visit to a beautiful wealthy Dutch mansion, it is a time capsule of daily life back in the 19th century.
The first impression was the staircase, which was beautifully decorated with marble as well as gilded banisters. Along the staircase, three life-size sculptures of goddesses made of white marble depicted the Judgement of Paris.
On the first floor, we visited the Ballroom, the main room of the house. It served as a reception room and was decorated in the impressive Louis XVI style. The central feature of the room is a colossal chandelier. The Ballroom is pretty impressive, we could imagine a high-class party held in that room where people dancing and enjoy classical music.
Read this short story of one evening with the famous twelve-course dinner which is common for wealthy family back in that time and try to imagine if you one of the lucky guest.
​
Twelve-Course Dinner
It is 25 May 1885. It is six in the evening, the guests have arrived. Abraham Willet greets his friends warmly. He has just turned sixty and of course that must be celebrated in style. The Meissen porcelain service is sufficient for the task. First, the guests were served turtle soup, croquets and tenderloin in Madeira sauce, then Breda capons with mushrooms and eel in aspic with mayonnaise. Following an interlude of fresh punch a la Romaine, his guests are treated to sweetbread with peas, truffeled turkey and Holland asparagus. The dinner concludes with diplomat pudding and orange jelly, followed by pralines and candied fruit. Many hours later, the ladies have withdrawn and the men enjoyed a glass of cognac and a cigar to round off a delightful evening.
There are more to experience in this impressive house, Garden Room, Ladies' Salon, Men's Parlour, Collector's Room as well as Bedroom. Abraham Willet had a passion for antiques and arts, some of his collections are also displayed in the house. Spare an hour or two to visit this house when you are in Amsterdam and experience yourself of how being the Willets.
At the back of the house, visitors can enjoy a beautiful garden in a French symmetrical style from the 18th century. Until the early 20th century, a carriage house and stables were located at the back of the garden.
​
This room on the left is my favorite. It has an amazing view directly to the garden. I believe, the owner used it to enjoy afternoon tea while having chit chat. Eventhough it is a small room, the combination of tall ceiling and windows make it looks bigger and broader. Plus its design is simply elegant.
​
More information you could find it here
Herengracht 605, Amsterdam, NL
