Herengracht 441

Description

Herengracht 441, a corner building at Koningsplein/Herengracht, was built in 1891/92 for basket maker L.P.H. de Ridder, who also sold balcony screens, sunshades, and bath chairs. The design is attributed to J. van Looy. The Algemeen Handelsblad newspaper criticized its height:

"It is unfortunate that circumstances force property owners to build higher and higher for to the detriment of a street's appearance, one sees new buildings rising like towers above their surroundings everywhere. It is true that such a building stands out because of this, and for many businesses, that is an advantage.
The new building of Mr. L.P.H. de Ridder at Koningsplein would have drawn attention regardless, for from an architectural point of view, its facade has many merits."