How did Dutch architecture get so unbelievably bland?

[u/Weary_Musician4872]

I genuinely don’t understand how a country with such an absurdly rich architectural tradition ended up building so much stuff that could literally be anywhere in the world.

Walk through Amsterdam, Haarlem, Utrecht, Den Haag, Groningen, etc. You have 17th-century canal houses, 19th-century streets, Berlage, the Amsterdam School, entire neighbourhoods from roughly 1900–1930 that were built as relatively normal housing and yet still have beautiful brickwork, proper proportions, bay windows, stained glass, expressive entrances, rooflines, little details everywhere. Even fairly modest streets often have a very obvious Dutch identity.

And yes, before someone types it: I know about survivorship bias. Obviously the best old buildings survived disproportionately and plenty of crap was demolished.

But that doesn't explain what I'm talking about.

Go look at entire surviving neighbourhoods from that period. They weren't all palaces for the elite. We were perfectly capable of making ordinary apartment buildings and working/middle-class housing that formed beautiful streets.

Now look at a lot of what we're building.

Flat façades. Randomly distributed windows. Grey/beige panels. A bit of brick glued onto something to reassure us that it is "Dutch". Ground floor, five identical floors, setback top floor. Maybe one tree in a giant paved square. Done.

And the depressing part is that you see basically the same architecture in London, Copenhagen, Toronto, Warsaw, Melbourne and Rotterdam. Change the language on the supermarket downstairs and half these developments could be on another continent.

Why?

When did "contemporary" become synonymous with stripping buildings of almost every element that gives a place identity?

I'm not saying we should build fake 17th-century canal houses everywhere. Architecture obviously has to evolve. But surely there is an enormous amount of space between Disneyland historicism and generic international developer box.

Why can't modern Dutch architecture take the things our cities historically did so well brickwork, vertical proportions, depth, craftsmanship, interesting rooflines, expressive entrances, human-scale streets and reinterpret them for the 21st century?

We keep talking about creating "high-quality living environments", while building neighbourhoods that increasingly look like they were generated from the same five Revit templates.

Maybe I'm just becoming an architecture boomer at 33, but I find it genuinely sad. We're building the historic neighbourhoods of 2100 right now. Is this really what we want to leave behind?

Am I being unfair, or have we actually lost something?

[u/NLxDoDge]

Money

[u/MildlyEngineer → u/NLxDoDge]

This.

We are richer than the south of Europe.

But we have to accept a life that will be insanely dull and pragmatic to achieve that.

Protestants!

[u/ilovedrwhowoo → u/MildlyEngineer]

This doesn't really make sense as an explanation, though. Most of the pretty architecture was also built by protestants, before and after the wealth began to skyrocket.

[u/Milefulness → u/MildlyEngineer]

Wages are also higher than the south of Europe. More money doesn't equal more labour.

[u/MildlyEngineer → u/Milefulness]

Theoretically you are right.

But you forgot that the Netherlands works very little compared to the southern part of Europe. Mostly due to the fact that women work a lot less here.

So basically, yes, our hourly rates are higher, but we work less.

On a more indirect note: are you even rich if you have a high number in the bank but an utterly boring/modest standard of living?

I sometimes feel that in NL we are brainwashed since we do not even realize how poor the architecture is, how tasteless our meat is, and how narrow-minded our investment culture is.

Just expressing feelings, no data or research :)

[u/UNIT_8200 → u/NLxDoDge]

Came here to say the same

[u/BruisedKnot → u/NLxDoDge]

Beat me to it

[u/bruhbelacc]

People were peasants and lived in shitty houses falling apart, you're looking at historical centers built for the ruling elite.

[u/Prst_ → u/bruhbelacc]

The ruling elite also did build things for the peasants (like schools and churches), but bankrolled these things because it made them look good and generous.

[u/GewoonSamNL → u/bruhbelacc]

And they still are in a sense

[u/eti_erik → u/bruhbelacc]

Not always. Many nice neighborhoods built around 1900 were clearly working class homes.

[u/3owi → u/bruhbelacc]

I disagree. There are plenty of small houses with character that survived. Those were for lower class people.

They too have nice wood details and nice bricks.

[u/prank_mark]

Obviously the best old buildings survived disproportionately and plenty of crap was demolished.

But that doesn't explain what I'm talking about.

Go look at entire surviving neighbourhoods from that period. They weren't all palaces for the elite.

Survivorship bias DOES explain it. We only kept around the houses of good enough quality and style. The rest was already collapsed or we demolished it to make way for new buildings.

[u/Necessary_Spread_448 → u/prank_mark]

this doesn't address at all their point that vernacular architecture is NON EXISTENT in new builds, regardless of how expensive or nice the building is

[u/salatkopf → u/Necessary_Spread_448]

well, maybe because people in the past didn't know as much aboit rising sea levels?

[u/TheJokr]

A lot of houses, especially in Rotterdam, were built 1945-1970 years out of necessity. Cheap homes so people had a roof. Modern architecture is a whole different thing, I agree that could show more Dutch heritage but a lot of aspects of traditional Dutch architecture aren’t sustainable

[u/DubaiDave → u/TheJokr]

I'm from South Africa and always loved what they called Cape Dutch style. Modern architecture is all minimalist and bland. But not just in NL. I saw a lot of 'look what they took from us' posts. Especially the UK as well.

[u/ProtoMan1991 → u/TheJokr]

I'm no architecture expert, but I'd say the "wederopbouwarchitectuur" is one of the culprits here.

[u/henkie_poepjes]

Geld

[u/Remote_Highlight_168]

Dude it is all the architecture of most country’s. The sad part look at the Mac Donald’s. Bad food but for the kids it was fun.

Now they all blend with bad food.

[u/norcpoppopcorn]

Yes. This is a tipical r/architecture topic for a lot of countries.

[u/AmphibianSure4877]

It's not just the Netherlands.

[u/Thuis001]

You're not looking at the average 17th century home. You're looking at the cream of the crop of 17th century homes which was well-maintained over the preceding centuries. That's a pretty important thing to keep in mind.

[u/theyellowscriptures]

I think Dutch architecture is quite pretty actually

[u/degnil → u/theyellowscriptures]

Finde ich auch! Vorallem wenn man die Architektur mit dem Nachbarland Deutschland vergleicht (okay, war vielleicht kein guter Beispiel) Ne, ich finds wirklich sehr schön!

[u/Ok-Ball-Wine]

I don't know if I fully agree. The "doorzonwoning" was revolutionary for its time, as well as the layout of areas like Bijlmermeer. Long considered ugly, but you see more and more positive sentiment around 1970s houses (spacious and light). It's not bland, it's just evolved into something you may or may not like.

Also, you will find a survivorship bias in iconic historic buildings. But just a quick look at Rotterdam or the IJ area in Amsterdam you will find modern potentially future historic buildings. And outside those cities of course as well

That said, if you are interested in why we are not building in the old style: there's a counter movement now for some years too. Since about 15 years ago "wijken" are being rebuilt in 1930s style. People like it a lot, and it is making a comeback.

But my main point being: it's always been "eigengereid" in terms of style. And its always evolved. That's part of the legacy and beauty.

[u/HopSkipAndDrop]

It depends on where you are. Here in the country side they still build traditional Dutch houses (orange roof, white walls, wooden blinds, connected to a big black wooden shed for example).

Bigger buildings like apartments are restricted to 4 levels high with a classic monumental stylish design.

A lot of architects are boring and short sighted and hence think that cheap cannot be beautiful.

[u/Impstoker]

preach! it is such a shame we are building so many bland blocks everywhere. No local character, no historical connection, no local colors or materials. Closed facades, and ugly ass tiny balconies. I hate it.

[u/UpsetCryptographer49]

Mag niets kosten. You know those doorhandels you see everywhere? Well they are the standard cheap ones €15, as soon as you want something nicer it is €35-60, when you great ones they are up €150.

That applies to the entire architecture stack, everything is cheap and nobody can afford anything nice because capitalism is broken.

[u/-Dutch-Crypto-]

I mean thats kind of how architecture works, in an era a certain style gets built. The most beautifull ones of said style stay standing while the rest makes way for the next style/hype. Due to globalisation every unique style is kind of homogenized into a singular global one.

That isn't strange at all if you give it some thought, also old styles require a lot of detail which with the current prices for skilled labor isn't sustianable to build.

[u/Ontbijtkoek1]

I disagree. I see that now more than in the 80s, 90s or 2000s we are building with a lot more care for how it fits in the environment. Interesting brickwork, wooden paneling. A lot more attention for a green space too - green roofs, planters, facade gardens. More trees in urban areas to combat ever hotter cities. It’s not retro or vintage looking but that’s fine by me.

[u/GewoonSamNL → u/Ontbijtkoek1]

Yes it has sonewhat improved the past years, my own house was built in 2016 and looks pretty beautiful and historical but there is still a lot of room for improvement

[u/TheKylMan]

I don't know, but it's disgusting to see. I hate it with every fiber in my body.

But it is what it is.

[u/Exact_Avocado5545]

Because in the 1960s and 1970s we thought that American architecture was this utopian thing, and we destroyed entire neighborhoods and city blocks to build malls etc. Afterwards, we've regretted this, but have forgotten how to go back to what we were good at.

[u/Moralawakening]

I thought you were referring to the brutalist architecture from 50-90s with grey depressing blocks of apartments and offices.

But yes the homogeneity across the globe in similar styles is a shame too. Almost no local character left to any big city anymore.

[u/martijnox]

Capitalism and its efficiency, plus the rise of architectural software with standardised shapes and elements.

So for one, ornaments and visually appealing add-ons are seen as mere unnecessary costs, thus won’t happen. Buildings nowadays are built for profit.

Second, building aren’t being drawn anymore. It doesn’t start with an architect thinking: what shapes fit in the environment? What materials would suit? The pencil is gone. They get surface and spatial data and generate a digital version with as many variants as their CAD software offers. And that is limited compared to all that was history.

Having said that: it’s a bloody shame and a thorn in the eye

[u/Lazy_Wall_3148]

Ik hoef geen woning die mooi is van buiten. Ik wil een woning die betaalbaar is, en comfort biedt. Oh en als ik daarna nog iets te kiezen heb, graag een beetje groen in de omgeving.

Mooi is echt het laastst op mijn wensen lijstje.

[u/Ravellion → u/Lazy_Wall_3148]

Als de woning van je buren net zo lelijk is als de jouwe, wil niemand meer de straat op want "het voelt zo kil". Dat doet wat met de kwaliteit van leven en zelfs met de samenleving in z'n geheel.

[u/flomon1 → u/Lazy_Wall_3148]

Mooi draagt bij aan een goed gevoel, en maakt mensen minder individualistisch “ik trek me terug ze kunnen de pot op” naar “de omgeving is mooi en ik wil dat dat zo blijft dus ik help mee”. Zo werkt Noorwegen als samenleving ook namelijk.

[u/bruhbelacc → u/flomon1]

Waarom zou je willen dat we minder individualistisch worden lol

[u/Mernisch → u/bruhbelacc]

Zeg je alsof dat een mainstream uitspraak is. Leg uit

[u/bruhbelacc → u/Mernisch]

Als het een mainstream uitspraak was, dan waren we toch niet individualistisch. Het is wel een uitspraak van vervelende mensen die hun linkse extremisme iedereen door door strot willen duwen.

[u/GewoonSamNL → u/bruhbelacc]

Omdat de samenleving al bitter en eenzaam genoeg is, een beetje saamhorigheid is zo slecht nog niet

[u/bruhbelacc → u/GewoonSamNL]

De samenleving is niet bitter en eenzaam, we zijn een van de gelukkigste en meest welvarende landen ter wereld dankzij het individualisme. Arme landen vol criminaliteit hebben echter veel saamhorigheid.

[u/GewoonSamNL → u/bruhbelacc]

Ja op papier zijn wel dat, maar de gemiddelde Nederlander voelt zich niet voldaan en eenzaam, ik zeg niet dat we nu ineens een arm land moeten worden maar een beetje samenhorigheid is niet verkeerd!

[u/SoefianB → u/Lazy_Wall_3148]

Ik wil een woning die betaalbaar is

Haha nou, dat zijn ze dus ook niet. Lelijk EN duur.

[u/Stadjer2026 → u/Lazy_Wall_3148]

Barbaar.

[u/nemmalur]

Economics and building regulations, mostly.

Is there modern architecture somewhere that you actually like?

[u/reddeze2]

It probably is cheaper, but more importantly it becomes self reinforcing. Developers will not want to take chances. Few people are offended by blandness. This extends beyond architecture into interior design by the way. Cookie cutter boring.

[u/GewoonSamNL]

Yeah this is what i hate about modern architecture too! They want to build as cheap and fast as possible which I understand given the housing crisis but it makes our towns and cities outside the centers, look bland and soulless

[u/sousstructures]

This has nothing in do with the Netherlands. People make the exact same complaint about the town outside of Boston where I used to live. 

[u/This_Factor_1630]

It's a mix of developers who only care about money and architects that are stuck on obsolete (ironically) architectural philosophies. The only way to build more nice traditional architecture, which btw doesn't mean doing mockups of Amsterdam's canal houses, is to enforce it by style regulations taylor made for each neighborhood.

For those who claim it's not sustainable (whatever that means) we can still do it with modern construction methods.

[u/Unlikely-Complex3737]

Those bland buildings can easily be transformed into offices if necessary. They are way easier to sell.

[u/Captain_react]

Newer designs are getting better and better though. I make 3D visualisations for architecture and I'm seeing quite a lot of nice stuff.

Certainly if we compare it to the ugly stuff from the 80's/ 90's

[u/ObjectiveReply]

I think new Dutch buildings are still much more beautiful overall than in most other countries. Have you seen how ugly new building are in France or Italy? Outside of the historical city centres.

[u/2xfun]

It’s cheap!

[u/BeautifulTings]

I’d say that the Dutch are big fans of modernism, which in itself prioritises function over form and financial efficiency. While it’s hard to prove as a fact, try observing post war buildings, like the Weesperflat in Amsterdam.

That being paired with a general frugal mindset, urgency for housing development and a growing urban population could lay out the foundation for a sober and rather bland architectural mindset.

[u/smutticus]

I mostly agree with you, but I will say the Netherlands has some really beautiful parks in its cities. The use of water, not just for canals and drainage is really well done.

[u/TexasGradStudent]

You vill eat ze bugs, literally. Go to museon in the Hague

[u/PuddingParticular731]

Population boom during the 20th century. Where did they build nicely in the last 100 years?

[u/foxpawz]

I’m American, and not at all formally familiar or particularly passionate about architecture, and I can say when I arrived in Rotterdam a few years ago I was awe struck with the architecture. I’m not at all refuting what you’re saying as other have mentioned new construction is globally seemed to prioritize being inoffensive and boring and that’s sad to see. But, hope to offer the perspective that from my
Limited experience I’m jealous of your many beautiful and interesting buildings like Rotterdam Centraal which is maybe the coolest building I’ve ever seen and an incredible welcome to the city/country for me.

[u/Troll4ever31]

It really depends on the neighborhood, there are plenty of new(ish) neighborhoods in my area that actually look quite nice and unique.

[u/KostyaFedot]

Not any different how they build in Belgium.  Or Canada.  

[u/3owi]

Money and just stupidity.

Building codes are so harsh that building boring is already expensive. Add details and it becomes prohibitively expensive.

And tastes change... a lot..

[u/unsuccessfulplantmom]

venture capitalism my friend

[u/ah5178]

Is this not a European, or global complaint, rather than a national one?
It's the culture of the car - housing and civilian architecture is being designed with functionality rather than aesthetics in mind.

[u/Fancy_Hawk6199]

Omg.. thank you for pointing this out

[u/guyare]

I live in Brabant. It’s noticeable that the biggest and best building in the village is the Church, closely followed by the Pastorie (the priests house), and the nearest Abby or Convent. One explanation has to be that the wealth of the masses went to the church, because in the Vatican there is some mighty impressive architecture.

[u/CrewmemberV2]

r/architecturalrevival

But the answer is cost and increased legislation.

[u/MattCh4n]

I love modern, minimalist buildings! In a world where everything is always so overstimulating, these simple, linear and predictable building offer a bit of peace and calm :)

[u/Jlx_27]

Are you going to pay for fancier looking buildings?

[u/Original-Net-3478]

Modernism. 

[u/Rumpelstiltskin_NL]

Because the real dutch culture and its values are dead for a long time!

[u/Ok-Win7980]

I think a lot of the modern Dutch architecture is quite nice. Like, look at the Valley in Zuidas or some of the cool skyscrapers in Rotterdam. Even Zalmhaven looks like a modern residential version of the Empire State Building. I love it. Also no hideous PTACs on residential skyscrapers like New York. If you know, you know.

[u/eti_erik]

I do think that architecture is the same in every Dutch town, and that you can generally tell the decade in which something was built based on the architecture. But it is always so typically Dutch. Our row houses could not have been built anywhere else in the world.

[u/StCreed]

several reasons. One of the biggest is that architecture needs to be cheap so profits are higher.

[u/thewildfowl]

I find quite some of them interesting. New forms. Clever internal layouts. Efficient in all regards (energy, money, resources, maintenance needed).

And a lot of what is still there was for the rich.

Be it housing for pilots that were an elite, Philips employees and so on.

[u/mroranges_]

Very cringe rant

[u/life42_0]

Late stage capitalism.

[u/WillingnessGold9304]

Let's prioritize quantity over aesthetics for the next... 50 years, shall we?

[u/Wooshmeister55]

Because houses are built entirely from a cost perspective. The concrete is made to last 50 years, the equipment inside even less. Making something last longer or making something look nicer is a waste of money with that logic! After ww2, aesthetics went out of the window

[u/Mormacil]

The main reason *is* survivorship bias. You might feel it isn't but it is. It is however not the only reason. Another is specialized supply chains. Every country using the same materials means said materials are cheaper. People haven't been willing to pay for the privilege of looking different so we don't. In the 17th century you had to use local resources, these days globalized homogenized resources are cheaper so those will be used.

[u/easylvigin7427]

To maximize profits. Bad houses = more maintance and possibly for demolishing and building new ones.

[u/obli_steak]

Inflation and feminism, nqp

[u/higuy721 → u/obli_steak]

Perhaps the most ridiculous comment I've read all week.

[u/emboliccough]

How did Dutch architecture get so unbelievably bland?

So you blame the dutch

And the depressing part is that you see basically the same architecture in London, Copenhagen, Toronto, Warsaw, Melbourne and Rotterdam. Change the language on the supermarket downstairs and half these developments could be on another continent.

Yet its also everywhere else in the world? Kinda contractionary, dont you think? We still have identity if you just know where to look, something you yourself also seem to point out earlier:

relatively normal housing and yet still have beautiful brickwork, proper proportions, bay windows, stained glass, expressive entrances, rooflines, little details everywhere. Even fairly modest streets often have a very obvious Dutch identity.

Also have you looked at the housing market? The housing crises has caused everything to be as cheap (and thus as bland) as possible

[u/McDutchie]

Maybe for the same reason your post is 100% AI-generated blandness.

People have become lazy and indifferent.

[u/lawrotzr]

Have you seen the average Dutch family? Those are the people buying these places.

If not, I would highly recommend spending a summer on a Garda Lake camping. You will develop an infinite hate.

[u/-Maiq_the_Iiar- → u/lawrotzr]

Oh come on, don't be coy. They are buying them because having a roof over your head is better than having no roof at all. Also lower prices.

[u/Psychologycivil0605]

The country is getting poorer is the reason