At its core, this house probably dates from the 17th century. The building has a fine facade, but the cartouche in the so-called Flemish gable stands out the most. Ornately framed by lobes and scrolls, a sailing ship can be recognised, complete with standing rigging, figurehead and flapping vanes. The image on the fancy gable stone was not chosen by chance. Hendrik Coops van der Woude, who had this new façade built for the house in 1728, was in fact a captain on the transport ship of the 'College der Admiraliteit'. Around the corner, on Zuiderhaven, the Frisian Admiralty has no fewer than four slipways to quickly build and repair many ships. Harlingen experiences a huge boom in those years, and Hendrik's investment reflects that nicely.
However, the city also experienced poorer times. Around 1890, the Admiralty is long gone, and other ports are overtaking Harlingen. Then no less than 38 people live in this same house, surely not just for fun. Downstairs at the front, a family with ten children lived; at the back, a family with six. On the first floor, in the back, lives a family with two children, and in front a family with 12...
Havenplein 14 - Richly decorated poverty
At its core, this house probably dates from the 17th century. The building has a fine facade, but the cartouche in the so-called Flemish gable stands out the most. Ornately framed by lobes and scrolls, a sailing ship can be recognised, complete with standing rigging, figurehead and flapping vanes. The image on the fancy gable stone was not chosen by chance. Hendrik Coops van der Woude, who had this new façade built for the house in 1728, was in fact a captain on the transport ship of the 'College der Admiraliteit'. Around the corner, on Zuiderhaven, the Frisian Admiralty has no fewer than four slipways to quickly build and repair many ships. Harlingen experiences a huge boom in those years, and Hendrik's investment reflects that nicely.
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However, the city also experienced poorer times. Around 1890, the Admiralty is long gone, and other ports are overtaking Harlingen. Then no less than 38 people live in this same house, surely not just for fun. Downstairs at the front, a family with ten children lived; at the back, a family with six. On the first floor, in the back, lives a family with two children, and in front a family with 12...
