What is a voorhuis?
The voorhuis is the part of a historic Dutch house that faces the street. In towns before the eighteenth century, the voorhuis often contained a workshop, shop or office. That is why it was usually taller than the part behind it, the achterhuis (rear house), and often had a cellar.
Narrow, deep buildings
Old town houses are often narrow and deep. A narrow facade had advantages: many houses could stand side by side along the street, each with its own entrance for trade. The disadvantage was that the middle of the house received little daylight. There were various solutions for this:
- a light well or light shaft in the middle of the building;
- a voorhuis and a separate achterhuis with a courtyard between them, so that both parts received light;
- a passage along the courtyard to reach the achterhuis.
The voorhuis and achterhuis were often separated by a fire wall.
Voorhuis in the countryside
Later, a new dwelling built in front of an older barn or farmhouse was also called a voorhuis. Sometimes such a voorhuis stands at right angles to the barn. The name lives on in the word voorkamer: the room at the front, facing the street.
In practice: recognising and renovating
- A difference in storey height between the voorhuis and achterhuis often points to the original function of the voorhuis.
- When renovating such a building, the fire wall and the timber floor structures between the voorhuis and achterhuis are often structurally important. Have them assessed before you make any openings.
- Many of these buildings are listed monuments or lie in a protected townscape. In the Netherlands, first check with the municipality which permit you need.
Related terms
- Achterhuis
- Fire wall
- Cellar
- Timber floor structure
- Listed monument
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