In the quiet center of Amsterdam, next to Keizersgracht Street, on the bank of a canal, stands the charming Van Loon house museum. The building, constructed in 1672, belongs to the Van Loon family, founders of the Dutch East India Company.
At one time, Rembrandt's student, the painter Ferdinand Bol, lived here; later the house passed into the ownership of the Van Loon family. For some time, Tora Van Loon-Egidius, lady-in-waiting to Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, also lived here. Each resident left behind works of art and interior items that later made up the museum's collection.
The architecture of the building is traditional for the classic Dutch “canal house.” On the upper part of the facade you can see four figures: Mars, Minerva, Vulcan, and Ceres personify war, justice, fire, and fertility — the four sources of the homeowners' prosperity.
There is plenty to see in the museum, but the collection is quite eclectic, as it was assembled by different owners over several centuries. Pay attention to the antique furniture, porcelain, silverware, valuable figurines, and family paintings. Behind the museum there is a stunning garden — it feels as though you step straight from the street into the XVII century.
Incidentally, the heirs of the aristocratic Van Loon family still live in the building, so some parts of the house are closed to visitors, and while walking through the rooms, you may even unexpectedly run into members of this family.
