During a short period around 1900, Art Nouveau developed in all European countries, but picked up differently in each country. It is therefore difficult to name characteristics that can be seen everywhere. Antoni Gaudi in Spain, Victor Horta in Belgium, Otto Wagner in Austria, Louis de Wolf and Gerrit van Arkel in the Netherlands have much in common, but their styles are quite different. Consequently, the terms used are different. The style is called art nouveau in Belgium and France, Jugendstil in Germany, Secession in Austria, Modernismo in Spain, then Nieuwe Kunst in the Netherlands - later the term art nouveau was usually used here.
Quite a few residential houses were built in art nouveau style. But also many shops and offices, which were eager to show that they were keeping up with the times and therefore dressed in what was considered modern at the time.
A building built entirely in art nouveau style is totally different from the neo-Renaissance that prevailed at the time. But many buildings combine different styles: art nouveau with neo-renaissance or chalet style, often neo-renaissance with a touch of art nouveau. Eclectic architecture, in other words.
There is one neighbourhood where art nouveau is represented above normal: that is the area around Vondelpark and Concertgebouw. A prime neighbourhood, part of it is the city's only real villa district, kind-of-name in character.
But we start the tour in the city centre, where a surprising amount of art nouveau can be found scattered around the district, especially offices and shops.
Characterisation
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Decent neighbourhoods, city villas
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Shops and offices
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Vondelparkbuurt and Concertgebouwbuurt
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Eclectic architecture
PRIVATE GUIDED TOUR FOR SMALL AND LARGE GROUPS
Duration: about 2 hours
Price: €25 per person. Small groups pay slightly more per person.
Booking / info: Call 06-41967625 / 06-41967655. Or send an e-mail to bf@stadswandelkantoor.nl. .