Amsterdam Oldest House

In 1521, Amsterdam issued a ban on building wooden houses within the city due to the risk of fire. The Het Houten House (Wooden House) pre-dates this ban on wooden houses, and is one of only two homes made completely of wooden materials remaining in the city of Amsterdam. The Het Houten Huis is known to be the oldest house in Amsterdam, and while it is not striking in appearance, it is amazing to think that this structure has survived the many years when nearly every other home of its kind has either been demolished or destroyed by fire over the centuries. It is truly a monument to survival, and stands as an example of endurance through the ages. The Het Houten Huis is a part of the Begijnhof complex of buildings, and is a good place to visit if you are planning to tour Begjinhof or the “hidden” chapel of Begjinhof. While it may be slightly out of the way the “main” tourist spots, Begijnhof is a beautiful piece of the history of Amsterdam, and well worth the visit, and while you are there you will have the chance to see this quaint piece of Dutch history that has stood in the same place since the Medieval period.

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