Vroom & Dreesman

English translation

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Description

Introduction

The DEPARTMENT STORE Vroom & Dreesmann, completed in 1936, located on the Aalmarkt on the Rhine between two alleyways, was designed in 1934 by Leonardus van der Laan (1864-1942) and his son Johannes Antonius (1896-1966), commissioned by the department store concern of the same name. Vroom & Dreesmann was designed in a Traditionalist architectural style strongly inspired by Scandinavian architecture of the period, comparable to the work of, among others, G. Friedhoff and A. van der Steur. As a former student of M.J. Granpré Molière, Jan van der Laan had worked with his father since 1921, particularly in this Traditionalist architectural style. C. Kerckhoff, the branch manager at the time, knew Van der Laan from school, which is why he preferred him over Jan Kuyt, who was designing most of the new V&D branches at that time. At the rear, the 1936 building was later connected to existing buildings on the Breestraat, whose front facades were left intact. The ground floor and first three storeys were designed as sales spaces. The fourth, set-back, storey was used for offices and service rooms. Of the interior, in particular the main staircase has been preserved in its original state. In the staircase are stained-glass windows by Joep Nicolas (1897-1972). The staircase was originally covered by a white-glass lantern roof, which has been replaced by a gently sloping barrel vault with recessed spotlights. The storefronts on the ground floor have been partially modernized. The greatest change was the removal of the display islands in 1967. The reliefs on the Maarsmansteeg depict families, to indicate that Vroom & Dreesmann is a shop for the whole family. One of the two reliefs on the projecting tower was added in 1993.

Description

Department store of five storeys under a projecting hipped roof, covered with copper. The core of the building consists of concrete columns, which were clad in marble, and concrete floors. The building has a rectangular floor plan with a curved front facade and tower-like extension with glazed superstructure and balustrade. The fourth and top floor is smaller and set back from the building line. The facades are built in yellow brick with sandstone decorative bands and reliefs.

On the storeys double and single windows with steel frames and six-pane glazing bars in a sandstone surround with concave fluting and drip mouldings.

Bands above and below the windows.

The exceptionally high ground floor is articulated on the front facade (north-east) by storefront windows under a copper canopy, above which is a horizontal band in sandstone with wooden shutters in square recesses. Above this three storeys and a set-back fourth storey. The front facade has twenty-two window bays (double window = two window bays). The second window bay from the left projects and has a superstructure, giving it the appearance of a tower.

To the right of the main volume a slightly set-back staircase of four storeys, containing a service entrance with goods reception. The staircase is lower to form a transition from the high department store to the adjacent Waag.

Five storefront windows retain the original wooden frames. Granite breastwork under storefront windows and granite half-columns between them. Wooden cornice and boarding of vertical slats above storefronts. Below in bronze canopy wooden framework, filled with glass. On first floor French balconies.

Two sandstone bands on first floor across the full width of facade.

Left of the projection single windows, right double windows. Sandstone at the corners of the roof edge of the third storey.

The fourth storey has glazed facades of standing panes in steel frames, surrounded by a narrow roof terrace with a steel railing.

Large windows with glazing bars on the projection. Between the windows two reliefs with herons and branches. Four bands at the height of the fourth storey. Above the roof edge the top of the tower tapers. Standing panes in steel frames under a copper projecting pitched roof with concave roof surfaces and battlement-like slabs. In the staircase to the right a service entrance under a sandstone round arch, narrow windows and a projecting roof edge.

The side facade on the Maarsmansteeg (south-east) has four window bays. Windows connected by sandstone concave fluting. Both the band above the storefronts and the roof edge of the third storey in sandstone. On the corners reliefs with family scenes. Bands on the third storey with sandstone springer and abutment stones. Window arrangement and railings otherwise identical to front facade.

Projecting roof edge fourth storey here on steel columns.

The side facade on Mandenmakerssteeg (north-west) is much wider than on Maarsmansteeg. Left part under saddle roof with square windows in units of three together. Bands on the third storey. Stairwell lights in the right part.

Interior

In the interior, particularly the main staircase and the construction of the hipped roof have been preserved. In the basement behind the service entrance on the Aalmarkt a ramp for the goods entrance. On the ground floor ramps with bronze railings, handrails and small steps to bridge the height difference between the Aalmarkt and Breestraat. In the part on the Breestraat, behind the facade of the Vergulde Turk, among other things a coffered ceiling and a wooden staircase with carved balusters have been preserved. In the balusters and wall boarding of the staircase garlands have been carved.

Under the small tower on the Aalmarkt a round staircase leads from the third to the fourth storey. The steel lattice trusses in the hipped roof were concealed behind a ceiling during the original office function. Staircase on square floor plan with rounded corners. White and black marble wainscoting, tiled column, linoleum on floor and treads, wooden handrails on bronze brackets, bronze stair railings and handrails, radiators in niches and stained-glass windows. Both figurative and abstract, rectangular and round stained-glass windows in the colours black, white, yellow and grey. In the figurative stained-glass windows the maxims likewise depicted are shown: first landing: "The welfare of the spirit/ is carried by material/ material must constantly be renewed/ to please mankind." second landing: "An old garment befits not a new person/ each year has its own wish." third landing: "Whoever sells good goods/ serves the discerning customer/ but also supports production/ and helps thus the whole country." fourth landing: "Wagons that travel through the countryside/ and carriers who load and unload bales/ and ships that plough the sea/ they bring the goods to please you."

Valuation

The department store is of general importance because of its cultural-historical value as a representative example of a department store from the nineteen-thirties.

The department store is also of general importance because of its architectural-historical value due to the Traditionalist architectural style inspired by Scandinavian architecture, which is rare in commercial architecture. Moreover, the design is of general importance as a characteristic example within the oeuvre of Leo and Jan van der Laan.

From an urban planning perspective the department store is highly valuable because of its prominent situation in the city centre of Leiden.

The exterior is well-preserved and also parts of the interior have been well-preserved.