See Gerrit Rietveld’s Modernist Marvel

Just outside the city center in the upscale Wilhelmina Park area hides a historic architectural icon of the modern age. The Rietveld Schröder House was commissioned to be designed without walls and without the limitations of traditional architectural norms. Its three-dimensional composition was a radical departure from any other house in Europe at the time and the building emerged as a prominent symbol of the De Stijl art movement. This UNESCO World Heritage site was a family home until 1985, and now it’s become a museum that serves as evidence of the architect’s progressive ideals.

An Icon of Architecture for 100 Years

Built in 1924, Dutch architect Gerrit Thomas Rietveld designed the home in collaboration with his client, Truus Schröder-Schräder, a young widow. The house is characterized by the primary colors, innovative features, and pure geometric ideas associated with De Stijl. This aesthetic sought artistic purity, simple abstract forms, and elegant precision of movement. Other notable figures associated with this style include Piet Mondrian and J.J.P. Oud.

A House Like No Other In The World

The unique features of the Schröder House continue to impress architects and interior designers due to its innovative solutions to some prominent design questions of its time. For example, the house’s interior spaces are highly flexible, with no hierarchical arrangement of rooms. Portable partitions allow walls to slide around on tracks for different configurations. This way the space can be transformed between open play spaces during the day and private bedrooms at night. Colors are kept to a minimum, with just primary blue, red & yellow with basic greys and blacks – how Dutch!

Visiting the Landmark: Practical Information

The attraction is some distance from the city center, so plan accordingly. Guests must have a timed reservation associated with a tour to visit the Schröder house. The museum is more for adults curious about architecture than anything of interest to young children. The guides are very fussy about people touching things or disturbing the environment, and special plastic overshoes are required to maintain an exceptional level of cleanliness. Therefore, this may not be the best family outing for kids under 12.

Rietveld Schröder Huis Tickets …….

• Children (0-12 years) : €3.00
• Children (13-17 years) : €10.50
• Adults : €19.00
• Museumkaart – Free

Open Tuesday thru Sunday 11 am to 4 pm ooooo Online booking in advance required

Getting There

Special Design Features

1. Open Spaces with Sliding Walls: The second floor of the house is a large open space that can be divided into five rooms and a hall using sliding walls. This flexibility allowed the family to adapt the layout according to their needs.
2. Functional Rooms: On the ground floor, there are four more rooms with specific functions: the kitchen, study, studio, and guest room which blend seamlessly into teach other.
3. Smooth Transition from Inside to Outside: Rietveld emphasized the connection between binnen (inside) and buiten (outdoors). For example the window design is unique, opening directly into fresh air without a frame or support.
4. Three-Dimensional Compositions: The four outer walls of the house are designed as three-dimensional composition of surface materials using only primary colors with white, gray, and black in a palette heavily influenced by De Stijl.
5. Incorporated Furniture: Rietveld’s furniture designs are partly incorporated into the house. The dominant colors create unity between the exterior, interior, and furnishings.
6. Revolutionary Flaws: The Rietveld Schröder House challenges conventional architectural norms. Its open layout, sliding walls, and use of color reflect Rietveld’s ideas – which are boldly presented, despite issues with practicality and logistics – especially related to sound and privacy.
7. Spatial Surprise: The interior surprises visitors. While the ground floor has a traditional layout, the top floor features an open living-sleeping area. Floating cabinets and stationary beds are integrated into the meta scheme.
8. Radical Windows: A striking detail is the window in the northeast corner, extending from the front to the side facade. When opened, it blurs the boundary between inside and outside with it’s unusual design.

A great introduction to the man and the museum in English