The Scheepvaarthuis

The name might suggest that this building has stood for centuries, but the Scheepvaarthuis is just over a hundred years old. Yet it feels monumental and timeless. We’re standing in front of one of Amsterdam’s most iconic buildings — a brick giant shaped like the bow of a ship, ready to set sail.

In 1916, six major shipping companies opened this building as their joint headquarters. It had to be grand and prestigious — a place where travelers could book their voyages in style. The ticket windows are still there, a reminder of when journeys to the Dutch East Indies, Africa, and even New York or Japan began here. The profits? Stored safely in the basement vault.

The building is a textbook example of the Amsterdam School. Architect Joan van der Mey, along with Michel de Klerk and Piet Kramer, created a total work of art. Every detail evokes movement and maritime heritage: explorer statues on the façade, ship carvings in the woodwork, and stained glass like sails in the wind.

After World War II, the shipping companies moved out. In 1983, Amsterdam’s public transport company (GVB) took over. The interior’s grandeur was replaced with ceiling tiles, fluorescent lights, and computer flooring. For many Amsterdammers, the building became a place of frustration — where you went to pay off a parking boot.