Markerhuisje

The Markerhuisje (also known as the Groenlandhuisje) is a small historic building at Tweede Wittenburgerdwarsstraat 133 on the island of Wittenburg in Amsterdam-Centrum. It is the only remaining shipyard house on Wittenburg, a reminder of the area's maritime past. The building was constructed in 1855 by shipbuilder Gerrit Broerse on a plot that was part of the Scheepswerf Het Groenland. Because his wife, Geertje de Groot, came from Marken, he had the house built in the local style of that island, resulting in a curious structure with a bell gable on one side and a stepped gable on the other. Despite its small size, it housed a family with more than ten children, and the attic under the pitched roof provided storage space. The building features shutters with green edges and an hourglass motif in red and white. After World War II, much of Wittenburg's old buildings were demolished, and in the 1970s and 1980s most of the remaining structures were replaced by new housing. The Markerhuisje survived as the last reminder of the shipyards. In 2002, due to ground remediation, the building was dismantled and its timber components were stored. In 2005, Stadsherstel Amsterdam became the owner and rebuilt the house near a newly constructed inner harbor, as the changed infrastructure prevented reconstruction on its original site. During the rebuild, living relatives of the Broerse and Beffers families were consulted. The building was considered suitable for a small hospitality business and now operates as a horeca venue. The Markerhuisje is not a listed monument; its antique appearance is partly fantasy, as the facades are not brick but stucco with a brick pattern, and the structure is supported by a concrete basement box. A plaque and a gable stone reading "De werf Het Groenland" commemorate its history. The building is owned and maintained by Stadsherstel Amsterdam, a foundation dedicated to preserving historic buildings in the city.

The Markerhuisje, also known as the Groenlandhuisje, is a small historic building at Tweede Wittenburgerdwarsstraat 133 on Wittenburg, one of the Eastern Islands in Amsterdam-Centrum. The Eastern Islands (Kattenburg, Wittenburg, and Oostenburg) were almost entirely dedicated to supporting shipping in and from Amsterdam. They housed large and small shipyards with suppliers and customers, as well as storage facilities. Housing for the workers was also built there. Shipbuilding remained on Wittenburg until the 1980s, when a large-scale urban renewal began, destroying almost all warehouses and industrial buildings. Behind the Oosterkerk, a large area was demolished, followed by ground remediation and new housing construction. In the time of the small shipyards, shipbuilder Gerrit Broerse owned a plot on Wittenburg called Scheepswerf Het Groenland, probably named after a small green plot here. In 1855, he had a small house built on that plot. Because his wife, Geertje de Groot, came from Marken, he had it built in the local style of that island. This resulted in a curious construction: the building has a bell gable on one side and a stepped gable on the other; both gable ends were placed on the side walls (the roof runs parallel to the street). Despite its small size, a family with more than ten children lived there, and the upper floor under the pitched roof provided storage space. Notable features include shutters with green edges and an hourglass motif in red and white. In 1930, Het Groenland celebrated its seventieth anniversary; it was national news, with congratulations from far and wide, including from the much larger Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij. Mayor Willem de Vlugt also congratulated the company. In 1955, the company celebrated its 100th anniversary. In 1990, the associated shipyard also closed. Because no one was interested in investing or building on contaminated ground, a small shipyard (Beffers & Co) remained at least until 1994. Years passed with meetings about relocating the company; the municipality could not find a place to move to, and the company did not want to invest given the threat of relocation. Once the decision was made, it was felt that the building was worth preserving; it was by then the only remaining reminder of the shipping businesses on Wittenburg; all others had left. During the ground remediation, the building was demolished (2002) and necessary woodwork such as roof trusses and beams were stored to be rebuilt in 2005 under the guidance of Stadsherstel Amsterdam. Due to the changed infrastructure, it could not be rebuilt on its original site and was placed near a newly constructed inner harbor. During the rebuild, living relatives of the Broerse and Beffers families were consulted. The building was considered (as of 2005) extremely suitable for a small hospitality business. In the years shortly after the rebuild, research was conducted to see whether the building, with its antique appearance, qualified for municipal or national monument status. It did not receive that status; the antique appearance is partly fantasy. The facades are not brick as the eye believes, but consist of stucco in the form of a brick pattern with joint lines. Moreover, the structure is supported by a concrete (basement) box. The building was provided with a plaque with a short history and a gable stone "De werf Het Groenland".

• 2005

  Stadsherstel Amsterdam becomes owner and rebuilds the house near a new inner harbor.

• 2002

  The building is dismantled and its timber components stored due to ground remediation.

• 1990

  The associated shipyard closes.

• 1955

  The company celebrates its 100th anniversary.

• 1930

  Het Groenland celebrates its 70th anniversary, receiving national attention.

• 1855

  Gerrit Broerse builds a house on his plot Scheepswerf Het Groenland on Wittenburg.

A preserved historic shipyard house serving as a small hospitality venue, symbolizing Wittenburg's maritime heritage.

• Hospitality venue

  The building now houses a small hospitality business.

1. 1Het Markerhuisje / Het Groenlandhuisje - Stadsherstel Amsterdamstadsherstel.nl
2. 2Markerhuisje - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Tweede Wittenburgerdwarsstraat 133 - Wikipedianl.wikipedia.org