Villa Heineken, Protected historical villa in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Villa Heineken is a protected residential building in Amsterdam that combines neo-Renaissance style with chalet influences in a distinctive three-story design. The structure at Tweede Weteringplantsoen 21 features decorated brickwork, carved stone accents, and varied rooflines that give it a layered and complex appearance.
Gerard Adriaan Heineken, a prosperous businessman, commissioned architect Dolf van Gendt to design this residence in 1891. He passed away just two years after the building was completed, never experiencing it fully as a home.
The villa displays ornamental tile work with floral motifs and symbols representing commerce and agriculture, reflecting the artistic values of prosperous Dutch households in the late 1800s. These decorative elements were statements of wealth and refined taste among Amsterdam's elite.
The building currently serves as office space and sits across from the former Heineken brewery on Stadhouderskade, maintaining a visual connection to its industrial heritage. Visitors can view the exterior from the street and appreciate its architectural details from the surrounding plaza area.
In 1983, Freddy Heineken, a descendant of the company, and his driver were kidnapped outside this villa in a high-profile crime that shocked the nation and led to major changes in how Dutch corporations approached personal security. This incident remains one of the most notable criminal events in Dutch history connected to this location.
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