Ornate gable and hook - Amsterdam, NL
Posted by: 
hykesj
N 52° 22.165 E 004° 53.396
31U E 628668 N 5803808
A townhouse in the historic Begijnhof represents Amsterdam as a vacation destination on this 1996 postage stamp.
Waymark Code: WM18683
Location: Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Date Posted: 06/07/2023
Views: 1
In 1996, the Netherlands issued a set of four postage stamps highlighting vacation destinations. These included the beach, cycling, Zaanse Schans (an open-air museum featuring windmills) and, of course, the capital city of Amsterdam, all framed by a flower motif. As anyone who’s been there knows, tall thin townhouses with gables of various shapes and hooks are a ubiquitous sight in Amsterdam (along with bicycles). The gables go by several different names depending on their shape and features: neck gables, bell gables, Dutch gables, step gables etc.
The townhouse shown on the stamp (framed by a cornflower) is located at Begijnhof 27A. The Begijnhof is a courtyard in the oldest part of Amsterdam that is completely closed off from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the city. There are 47 residences and a church within the enclosed area. For centuries it served as a beguinage, a type of commune for single Catholic women similar to a convent. The gable on this townhouse has wonderfully carved scrollwork and a relief sculpture of the Virgin Mary topped by a gold crown, indicating the religious nature of the Begijnhof. This townhouse is a registered Dutch national historical landmark.
Many, if not most, of the townhouses in Amsterdam are equipped with a hook attached to a cantilever protruding from the gable area. Supposedly, because taxes were assessed based on the amount of canal frontage, folks tended to build up rather than out resulting in proliferation of tall, thin structures with narrow, steep staircases. The hook facilitated the hoisting of furniture and other large objects to the upper floors.
Stamp Issuing Country: Netherlands
Date of Issue: 31-May-1996
Denomination: 80c
Color: multicolored
Stamp Type: Single Stamp
Relevant Web Site: Not listed
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