STILLE VEERKADE 34

From Passion to Reality

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We bought the house on Stille Veerkade in 2016. Not because it was the most logical step, but because it just felt right. After a trip to Rotterdam, we missed the soul of The Hague’s Old Town: its character, its depth, and the vibrant mix of culture and gastronomy. Our search for a home where multiple generations could live together proved to be a challenge; often, this meant that one generation had to settle for a smaller floor. Here, it was different. On Stille Veerkade, we found two fully-fledged living spaces on the ground floor. Thanks to the impressive connection between the front and back houses, we enjoyed each other’s proximity while the privacy of both households remained intact. A rare quality that formed the foundation for ten years of pure living pleasure.

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A dream with a solid foundation

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We had already discovered the place during an Open Monument Day. The Spinozasteeg, that hidden gem right behind the house, had always stayed with us. The fact that we were able to live here ourselves felt like a dream. Reality, however, began with a healthy dose of optimism and a thorough transformation. What was partly a studio at the time was renovated by a team of professionals to the highest standards—thoroughly and with passion. No detail was overlooked: from new foundations and a watertight base to a completely new roof. It was an intensive process, but the result made it all worthwhile. Today, it is a house where almost everyone who enters pauses for a moment and says ‘wow’. Or as Jan puts it: “When I walk through this house, it simply makes me happy.”

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Character in every detail

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During the renovation, we didn’t want to ‘tame’ the house, but to understand it. We made a conscious choice to honour its history. Old doors were given a new home and walls were sometimes left rough to keep the story of four centuries tangible. The absolute showpiece is the historic beamed ceiling in the living room. It took 84 hours of manual labour to expose it, but the result is a ceiling just like the ones you see in the paintings of Jan Steen, who once lived in this very block. This gives the house a unique, distinctive character.

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Light and life

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Light takes centre stage here. Thanks to the large windows, the soft, typically Dutch light moves through the rooms throughout the day—from the tranquil rear in the morning to the lively front in the evening. The Farrow & Ball colours, chosen with the help of an expert, breathe with the seasons. The garden is a green oasis of biodiversity in the heart of the city, a ‘viewing box’ that you look out onto from the house. Whilst we often sought out the roof terrace for the sunshine, the garden remained the soothing, green soul of the plot.

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A home for generations

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The Stille Veerkade proved to be the perfect spot for a bustling family life. It is a ‘positive’ home where our (foster) children have always felt safe. It is a place that offers space, both literally and figuratively. A wonderful example is the bespoke staircase on the upper floor: a piece of furniture that serves as a cupboard, a desk and a secret play area all at once. The neighbourhood also welcomed us with open arms. Thanks to the renovation, we got to know the neighbours straight away, which led to a close-knit community. At our housewarming, we saw exactly what this place stands for: a professor, a policeman, an architect and a teacher—everyone came together in this house. That sense of connection is also reflected in the plans to reopen the historic canals, an initiative that is now widely supported by the city council.

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A village within the city

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In the rear house, the former domain of the grandmother and her little dog, you experience a soothing silence. Despite its central location, it feels almost like a village here. In Spinozasteeg, people greet one another and anyone visiting for the first time is surprised by the tranquillity. Everything that makes life easy—schools, stations, shops and even the sea—is within easy reach. The neighbourhood is raw, lively and, above all, authentic. From the communal garden to the cosy terraces on Dunne Bierkade; here, you are part of an active, engaged community.

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The next chapter

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Why are we leaving this paradise? Because this house is made for living in, and at nearly 400 m², it has simply become too big for the two of us now that the children have flown the nest. You never truly own a historic property like this; you are merely a temporary part of it. We have lovingly added a chapter to this four-century-old history and are now preserving it for the next residents. It has been a privilege to live here, and we are happily handing over the keys to someone who will write a new story here.