Huis met de Paarse Ruitjes
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Huis met de Paarse Ruitjes: Two Centuries of Stories on the Zuidsingel
Huis Cohen is part of the Zusterhuis, the historic convent complex on Zuidsingel that was associated with the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Amersfoort for over two hundred years. In 2021, the sisters sold the convent, and it turned out that the interior of the house was surprisingly complete and largely preserved in its original condition. The 17th-century merchant’s house, better known as the Huis met de Paarse Ruitjes,Huis met de Paarse Ruitjesis therefore considered one of Amersfoort’s most beautiful city palaces.
The building was purchased in 1780 by the wealthy banker Benjamin Cohen. He had it extensively renovated, adding a natural-stone facade and an extra floor. The interior was also redesigned in the then-fashionable Louis XVI style, featuring marble floors, rich wood carvings, and ornate ceilings.
If you look closely…
Huis met de Paarse Ruitjes: Two Centuries of Stories on the Zuidsingel
Huis Cohen is part of the Zusterhuis, the historic convent complex on Zuidsingel that was associated with the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Amersfoort for over two hundred years. In 2021, the sisters sold the convent, and it turned out that the interior of the house was surprisingly complete and largely preserved in its original condition. The 17th-century merchant’s house, better known as the Huis met de Paarse Ruitjes,Huis met de Paarse Ruitjesis therefore considered one of Amersfoort’s most beautiful city palaces.
The building was purchased in 1780 by the wealthy banker Benjamin Cohen. He had it extensively renovated, adding a natural-stone facade and an extra floor. The interior was also redesigned in the then-fashionable Louis XVI style, featuring marble floors, rich wood carvings, and ornate ceilings.
If you look closely, you’ll discover traces of the Cohen family everywhere. For example, a mezuzah (a small Jewish text case) is affixed to every doorpost, and tobacco leaves—the source of the family’s wealth—are reflected in the decorations. The nicknameHuis met de Paarse Ruitjesrefers to the characteristic windows that have turned purple over the years due to the addition of manganese and the influence of daylight.
Behind the house lies a green monastery garden. Together with the historic chapel, it forms a unique and monumental complex in the city center. Plans are currently being considered for a future that does justice to the special history of this location.
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