Step into the past within the impressive Willet-Holthuysen House in the center of Amsterdam. This double mansion on the Herengracht contains many period rooms, spaces seemingly frozen in time. Every six months an exhibition by a contemporary maker is also held here, while the French-style garden remains a calm oasis in the midst of the bustling canal belt.

Abraham and Louisa

The house takes its name from the couple who lived there in the late 19th century, Abraham Willet and Louisa Holthuysen. They collected numerous artworks and objects, while the interior was designed to suit their taste. Even then, such extravagance was regarded as reminiscent of a romantic past. For the couple, the interior was the perfect way to share their taste and wealth with others.

Upon her death in 1895, Louisa Holthuysen gave the house and collection to the city of Amsterdam, with the provision that it should be made into a museum. More than a century later, the Willet-Holthuysen House is still open to visitors. Currently, it is one of the locations of the Amsterdam Museum.