Genre painting In the seventeenth century the term "genre painting" applied to everything from animal paintings and still lifes through to historical works and landscapes. In the eighteenth century, the term came to be applied only to scenes of everyday life. In the seventeenth century the term "genre painting" applied to everything from animal paintings and still lifes through to historical works and landscapes. In the eighteenth century, the term came to be applied only to scenes of everyday life.
Gothic Architectural style of the thirteenth to sixteenth centuries, characterized by pointed arches, rib vaulting, flying buttresses and a general emphasis on verticality. Architectural style of the thirteenth to sixteenth centuries, characterized by pointed arches, rib vaulting, flying buttresses and a general emphasis on verticality.
Grisaille A technique of monochrome painting in shades of grey. A technique of monochrome painting in shades of grey.
Misericord Ledge on a choir stall on which the occupant can be supported while standing; often carved with secular subjects (bottoms were not thought worthy of religious subject matter). Ledge on a choir stall on which the occupant can be supported while standing; often carved with secular subjects (bottoms were not thought worthy of religious subject matter).
Nave Main body of a church. Main body of a church.
Neoclassical A style of classical architecture evived in the nineteenth century, popular in the Low Countries during and after the Napoleonic occupation. A style of classical architecture evived in the nineteenth century, popular in the Low Countries during and after the Napoleonic occupation.
Neo-Gothic Revived Gothic style of architecture popular between the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Revived Gothic style of architecture popular between the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Pediment Feature of a gable, usually triangular and often sporting a relief. Feature of a gable, usually triangular and often sporting a relief.
Pilaster A shallow rectangular column projecting, but only slightly, from a wall. A shallow rectangular column projecting, but only slightly, from a wall.
Renaissance The period of European history marking the end of the medieval period and the rise of the modern world. Defined, among many criteria, by an increase in classical scholarship, geographical discovery, the rise of secular values and the growth of individualism. Began in Italy in the fourteenth century. Also refers to the art and architecture of the period. The period of European history marking the end of the medieval period and the rise of the modern world. Defined, among many criteria, by an increase in classical scholarship, geographical discovery, the rise of secular values and the growth of individualism. Began in Italy in the fourteenth century. Also refers to the art and architecture of the period.
Rococo Highly florid, light and intricate eighteenth-century style of architecture, painting and interior design, forming the last phase of Baroque. Highly florid, light and intricate eighteenth-century style of architecture, painting and interior design, forming the last phase of Baroque.
Romanesque Early medieval architecture distinguished by squat, heavy forms, rounded arches and naive sculpture. Early medieval architecture distinguished by squat, heavy forms, rounded arches and naive sculpture.
Rood screen Decorative screen separating the nave from the chancel. A rood loft is the gallery (or space) on top of it. Decorative screen separating the nave from the chancel. A rood loft is the gallery (or space) on top of it.
Stucco Marble-based plaster used to embellish ceilings, etc. Marble-based plaster used to embellish ceilings, etc.
Transept Arms of a cross-shaped church, placed at ninety degrees to nave and chancel. Arms of a cross-shaped church, placed at ninety degrees to nave and chancel.
Triptych Carved or painted work on three panels. Often used as an altarpiece. Carved or painted work on three panels. Often used as an altarpiece.
Tympanum Sculpted, usually recessed, panel above a door. Sculpted, usually recessed, panel above a door.
Vault Arched ceiling or roof. Arched ceiling or roof.
More on Amsterdam Amsterdam on the water Architecture in Amsterdam
Amsterdam on the water If Amsterdammers hadn't had the ingenuity to build their city on marsh and reclaimed land, sitting their buildings on wooden piles sunk into the sand, then the city wouldn't exist at all. Like the surrounding countryside, it is made out of and defined by water, and its buildings complement their watery surroundings everywhere you look, whether it's in the classic canal vistas of the seventeenth-century city or the contemporary developments in the former docks and the outskirts of the city centre.
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Here are ten things you can see or do to make the most of Amsterdam's unique watery environment: Amsterdam on the water Canal boat tours What the hell, there are worse ways of spending your time than taking on the glass-topped tourist boats tourist boats that chunter round the city's canals to cheesy canned commentary you can even take a tour by candlelight. that chunter round the city's canals to cheesy canned commentary you can even take a tour by candlelight. www.rederijkooij.nl. See "Water transport".
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Canal boats Amsterdam on the water Queen's Day There is no better time to explore the city's canals than on Queen's Day Queen's Day as it's the one day of the year when everyone takes to the water, on all sorts of craft, complete with pounding sound systems and free-flowing booze. Watch the fun from bridges and intersections or try to grab a place on one of the boats yourself. See " as it's the one day of the year when everyone takes to the water, on all sorts of craft, complete with pounding sound systems and free-flowing booze. Watch the fun from bridges and intersections or try to grab a place on one of the boats yourself. See "Opening hours and public holidays".
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Queen's Day celebrations on the water Amsterdam on the water Blijburg Right out on the eastern end of the city at IJburg, "Blijburg aan Zee" is the ultimate urban beach, a slim crescent of sand that's home to a buzzy summer vibe with bands and DJs, plus a bar and beach cafe which serves organic food. Take tram #26 to the end of the line. www.blijburg.nl. See "The Old Jewish Quarter and Eastern docklands".
Amsterdam on the water Zeeburg The old squatter areas of the eastern docklands eastern docklands are home to some of the city's most audacious architecture and, increasingly, some of its greatest nightlife. You can get here by ferry on Sundays, at two-hourly intervals from behind Centraal Station it takes half an hour to KNSM island. See " are home to some of the city's most audacious architecture and, increasingly, some of its greatest nightlife. You can get here by ferry on Sundays, at two-hourly intervals from behind Centraal Station it takes half an hour to KNSM island. See "Java and KNSM islands".
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Zeeburg Amsterdam on the water Bareboat exploration The best way to get around Amsterdam's canals is, of course, to do it yourself, either by hiring a pedalboat pedalboat www.canal.nl or better still a or better still a motorboat motorboat www.rentaboatamsterdam.com. Private boats start at 50 an hour, 200 per day, for up to six people. See "Water transport".
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Boating on the canal Amsterdam on the water Oosterdok Wandering around the artificial islands of the Oosterdok Oosterdok gives one of the most authentic insights into Amsterdam's seafaring past, whether it's inspecting the old boats and barges moored near the Nemo science museum, or strolling past the eighteenth-century quays and warehouses of the Entrepotdok. See " gives one of the most authentic insights into Amsterdam's seafaring past, whether it's inspecting the old boats and barges moored near the Nemo science museum, or strolling past the eighteenth-century quays and warehouses of the Entrepotdok. See "The Oosterdok".
Amsterdam on the water Marken Taking the bus to Volendam and then jumping on the ferry to the ex-island of Marken Marken doesn't take long, but the town feels a long way from Amsterdam's centre and gives some idea of how the place would have been when it was a stormy coast on an inland sea. doesn't take long, but the town feels a long way from Amsterdam's centre and gives some idea of how the place would have been when it was a stormy coast on an inland sea. www.markenexpress.nl. See "Marken".
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Marken Amsterdam on the water Amsterdam NAP Normal Amsterdam Water level, or Normaal Amsterdams Peil (NAP), is the Dutch benchmark water level Dutch benchmark water level more or less the same as sea level on the Dutch coast. You can view the brass bolt that shows NAP in the Muziektheater, although it's worth bearing in mind that it isn't the most reliable measure, because Amsterdam is sinking by around 2cm a year. See " more or less the same as sea level on the Dutch coast. You can view the brass bolt that shows NAP in the Muziektheater, although it's worth bearing in mind that it isn't the most reliable measure, because Amsterdam is sinking by around 2cm a year. See "Waterlooplein".
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Amsterdam NAP Amsterdam on the water Woonbootmuseum The Houseboat Museum Houseboat Museum on Prinsengracht is the one place where you can poke around a houseboat and see what it's really like to live on Amsterdam's waterways without invading anyone's privacy. The museum is set in a traditional Dutch houseboat dating from 1914. See " on Prinsengracht is the one place where you can poke around a houseboat and see what it's really like to live on Amsterdam's waterways without invading anyone's privacy. The museum is set in a traditional Dutch houseboat dating from 1914. See "The Woonbootmuseum and Felix Meritis building".
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The Woonbootmuseum Amsterdam on the water NDSM Shipyard Take a ferry from behind Centraal Station to Amsterdam Noord, where the buildings and slipways of the NDSM Shipyard NDSM Shipyard have been resurrected as exhibition space and artists' studios, fast becoming some of the city's most happening cultural hangouts, and also firmly rooted in the city's maritime past. See " have been resurrected as exhibition space and artists' studios, fast becoming some of the city's most happening cultural hangouts, and also firmly rooted in the city's maritime past. See "Amsterdam Noord".
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Wildlife on the canal Amsterdam on the water NDSM Shipyard NDSM Shipyard What's in the water? What's in the water?The one activity that really isn't recommended in Amsterdam's canals is swimming. People do end up in the drink from time to time, after which they are fished out and sent straight to hospital for a stomach pump and tetanus shot. Having said that, the water is in fact much cleaner than it used to be, and the canals are no longer channels for the city's raw sewage, although they are full of rubbish car wrecks, old bikes, you name it. There is even a reasonable level of marine life down in the depths indigenous fish such as carp and pike, as well as more recent arrivals like Chinese mitten crabs and corbicula clams, said to favour the car wrecks on the bottom.
Architecture in Amsterdam Amsterdam has one of the best-preserved city centres in the world, free of the high-rises and cluttered, modern development that characterize so many other European capitals. Despite that, it is not a monumental city there are no triumphal thoroughfares and few memorable palaces and churches. This was not a royal or an aristocratic city but a merchant one, with a tolerant attitude to religion, and the character of the architecture reflects this; it is Amsterdam's private, low-key dwellings, rather than its grand monuments, that give the city its distinctive charm.
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Architecture in Amsterdam Beginnings Amsterdam was a great site for a trading city, bang on the confluence of two rivers. But in other respects it was a terrible choice like many Dutch towns, a flat and waterlogged plain, in which buildings needed to be supported by thousands of wooden piles bashed into the sandy soil. Just across from Centraal Station, the wooden house at Zeedijk 1 Zeedijk 1 now home to the now home to the In 't Aepjen In 't Aepjen bar is one of very few timber buildings still left, dating back to around 1550, while not far from here, one of Amsterdam's oldest surviving buildings is the bar is one of very few timber buildings still left, dating back to around 1550, while not far from here, one of Amsterdam's oldest surviving buildings is the Oude Kerk Oude Kerk, dating from the 1300s. Deeper into the city centre, the Houten Huys Houten Huys in the in the Begijnhof Begijnhof dates from 1477, and still boasts its original Gothic timber frontage. dates from 1477, and still boasts its original Gothic timber frontage.
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The Begijnhof Architecture in Amsterdam The Golden Age Brick became the building material of choice from the late sixteenth century onwards, and buildings began to acquire the distinctive gables gables that adorn houses all over the city. The earliest type was the step-gable; the house at that adorn houses all over the city. The earliest type was the step-gable; the house at Oudezijds Voorburgwal 14 Oudezijds Voorburgwal 14 is a good example of this early Renaissance style, with its stone embellishments on red brick. The gable soon developed most notably under the greatest Dutch architect of the period, is a good example of this early Renaissance style, with its stone embellishments on red brick. The gable soon developed most notably under the greatest Dutch architect of the period, Hendrick de Keyser Hendrick de Keyser (15651621) into a more distinctively "Amsterdam" form, in which the previously plain step-gables were decorated with stonework and sculpture. One of the most lavish examples is the double-step-gabled residence at (15651621) into a more distinctively "Amsterdam" form, in which the previously plain step-gables were decorated with stonework and sculpture. One of the most lavish examples is the double-step-gabled residence at Singel 140142 Singel 140142 where Captain Banning Cocq (the principal figure in Rembrandt's where Captain Banning Cocq (the principal figure in Rembrandt's The Night Watch The Night Watch) lived built in 1600 by de Keyser.
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Herengracht The seventeenth century saw a surge in the city's population, and a major expansion expansion was required to successfully absorb its newcomers. This exercise in city planning was way ahead of its time, using the expansion to create the graceful sweep of canals you see today. It was also the heyday of Dutch architecture, and Hendrick de Keyser, and others, left their mark with a series of trailblazing works, such as the was required to successfully absorb its newcomers. This exercise in city planning was way ahead of its time, using the expansion to create the graceful sweep of canals you see today. It was also the heyday of Dutch architecture, and Hendrick de Keyser, and others, left their mark with a series of trailblazing works, such as the Huis Bartolotti Huis Bartolotti at Herengracht 170172, with its ornate step-gables, as well as two of the city's most characteristic seventeenth-century churches: the at Herengracht 170172, with its ornate step-gables, as well as two of the city's most characteristic seventeenth-century churches: the Westerkerk Westerkerk and the and the Zuiderkerk Zuiderkerk.
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Huis Bartolotti De Keyser's distinctive Westerkerk tower was finished by his successor as the leading city architect, Jacob van Campen Jacob van Campen (15951657), who brought overseas influences to his work. He is best known for building Amsterdam's new town hall in 1665, now the (15951657), who brought overseas influences to his work. He is best known for building Amsterdam's new town hall in 1665, now the Royal Palace Royal Palace a more restrained building than its predecessors, exhibiting the Palladian proportions that the architect had absorbed in Italy. Van Campen's contemporary, a more restrained building than its predecessors, exhibiting the Palladian proportions that the architect had absorbed in Italy. Van Campen's contemporary, Philip Vingboons Philip Vingboons (160778), was responsible for a number of the private houses on the by now burgeoning city extension, many of them sporting the fashionable neck-gable a slimmed-down version of the step-gable; some appealing examples can be seen at (160778), was responsible for a number of the private houses on the by now burgeoning city extension, many of them sporting the fashionable neck-gable a slimmed-down version of the step-gable; some appealing examples can be seen at Herengracht 168 Herengracht 168 and the Cromhouthuizen at and the Cromhouthuizen at Herengracht 364370 Herengracht 364370.
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The Royal Palace (Koninklijk Paleis) Architecture in Amsterdam The nineteenth century The eighteenth century was relatively uneventful, but in the nineteenth century the city developed a distinctive new style, partially spearheaded by Petrus J.H. Cuypers Petrus J.H. Cuypers (18271921), famed for his neo-Gothic creations. Cuypers not only built the monumental (18271921), famed for his neo-Gothic creations. Cuypers not only built the monumental Centraal Station Centraal Station, but also contributed a series of buildings in the outskirts not least the Rijksmuseum Rijksmuseum, which was purpose-built as the country's national museum, and shouts from its gabled rooftops the importance of tradition and the legacy of Dutch art.
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The Rijksmuseum The turn of the century ushered in further changes with the international, modern style of Hendrik Petrus Berlage Hendrik Petrus Berlage (18561934), exemplified in his (18561934), exemplified in his Beurs Beurs on the Damrak, exhibiting the attributes of a restrained yet highly decorative vision. Berlage's work inspired the on the Damrak, exhibiting the attributes of a restrained yet highly decorative vision. Berlage's work inspired the Amsterdam School Amsterdam School, a group of architects working in the city in the early twentieth century, led by Piet Kramer Piet Kramer (18811961) and (18811961) and Michael de Klerk Michael de Klerk (18841923). The movement's keynote building was de Klerk's (18841923). The movement's keynote building was de Klerk's Het Schip Het Schip housing complex of 1920, on the western edge of the centre. housing complex of 1920, on the western edge of the centre.
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Eastern docklands architecture [image]
The Muziekgebouw Architecture in Amsterdam The nineteenth century The nineteenth century Contemporary Amsterdam Contemporary AmsterdamModern Amsterdam is changing fast, with new developments constantly adding to the city's architectural variety. The largest, perhaps most influential of these are the docklands docklands schemes to the west and east of the city centre, where some of the city's long-neglected waterways are being transformed into a modern-day version of the seventeenth-century master plan. The docklands to the east, and schemes to the west and east of the city centre, where some of the city's long-neglected waterways are being transformed into a modern-day version of the seventeenth-century master plan. The docklands to the east, and Zeeburg Zeeburg in particular, are home to some of the city's most exciting new architecture a mixture of renovated warehouses and assertive new structures, the most notable being the avant-garde in particular, are home to some of the city's most exciting new architecture a mixture of renovated warehouses and assertive new structures, the most notable being the avant-garde Muziekgebouw Muziekgebouw. There are also some clever, contemporary takes on the traditional Dutch waterfront on Java Island Java Island, whose modern terraces and curvy bridges evoke the canal houses of the city centre and as such bring the city's architectural story full circle.
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