In the working-class district of Spaarndammerbuurt in Amsterdam stands a remarkable building: Het Schip (“the ship”). Built in 1919 by architect Michel de Klerk, this masterpiece of the Amsterdam School is an explosion of bricks, organic forms, and architectural fantasy.
Galerie photos
Janericloebe, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A brick ship for the working class
With its curves, sculpted details, and its iconic tower without any practical function, Het Schip is a bold response to the rigidity of functional urban planning. Built under the 1901 Housing Act, it contains 102 apartments, a former post office transformed into a museum, and a small meeting room. This building demonstrates that it is possible to combine dignity, beauty, and affordable housing.
The style is expressionist, almost theatrical, drawing inspiration from craftsmanship and shipbuilding. A true ode to creativity… in the service of the people.