Belgische loodshuizen, Art Nouveau residential buildings in Spuistraat, Vlissingen, Netherlands
The Belgian Pilot Houses are four white-plastered residential buildings on Spuistraat designed with geometric red patterns and distinctive cast iron railings on bay windows. The structures feature high corner sections typical of early 20th-century residential architecture, creating visual interest along the streetscape.
The buildings were commissioned in 1910 by Belgian maritime pilots who needed housing in Vlissingen for their work. Architect P.F. Smagge, born locally but trained in Antwerp, drew on his dual heritage to create structures that bridged Dutch and Belgian design traditions.
The buildings carry the names of Belgian pilot children: Louise, Maria, Blanche, and Yvonne. These residences reflected the close ties between Vlissingen and Belgium's maritime world, serving as homes for families working the waterways.
The buildings are located in a quiet residential area easily accessible from the city center. They are best explored on foot, allowing you to appreciate the facade details and decorative elements from different angles as you walk along the street.
The buildings are numbered 59 through 65 on Spuistraat, each originally built as a separate residence for families of pilots working the Belgian-Dutch waters. This configuration reflects how early 20th-century architects designed housing complexes for working maritime families.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
