Bijenkorf

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

Introduction

On the corner of Damrak and Dam, erected in 1911-1914, a DEPARTMENT STORE according to a design in the manner of around 1800 by J.A. van Straaten jr. commissioned by the management of the Bijenkorf through Arthur Isaac. Following disagreement with the management, Van Straaten was dismissed. The remaining works were completed by B.A. Lubbers. This applied chiefly to the interior. In 1937-1938 the building was extended towards the Warmoesstraat with an expedition and extra shop space by D. Brouwer. In this process the then Beursstraat was covered with a light court. In 1979 the Beursstraat was built over.

Description

On a rectangular ground plan constructed department store partly erected in red brick and partly in natural stone. The building has five storeys: a ground floor, three storeys and an attic storey. The ground floor functions here as a plinth. The whole is covered by a hipped roof with shingles. The roof is enlivened with roof dormers and skylights and decoratively worked ventilation ducts. The extension has an irregular ground plan and is rendered white.

The facade on the Damrak (W) shows a slightly projecting middle section with wings on either side and corner pavilions. The middle section and the corner pavilions are built up above gutter height with on either side of the projection an open-work brustwering and are terminated by an arched pediment with in the tympanum field an oeil-de-boeuf surrounded by leafwork. Above the middle section a square domed turret. The storeys show Colossal pilasters on ornamental consoles which support a main entablature. The corniced overhanging gutter line is provided at the width of the middle section and the pavilions with gutter blocks. The middle bays of middle section and corner pavilions show on the storeys balconies on ornamental consoles behind open-work wrought-iron ornamental brustweringss, at the level of the first storey broader and placed between heavy posts with balusters. The regularly repeated decorative motifs are located exclusively in the middle section and corner pavilions: these are festoons in the spandrels beneath the windows and reliefs over the entire length of the middle pilasters.

The ground floor is provided with large window openings. The recessed windows on the storeys are coupled two by two and provided with fanlights. The subdivision is effected by natural stone mullions. Most windows on the first storey are still provided with leaded glass. The entrance is accessible via a stoep, is located at the width of the middle section and consists of three openings between heavy piers. On the middle piers an oval iron plaque with MAGAZIJN DE BYENKORF and beneath a beehive the letters S.P.G. (referring to Simon Philip Goudsmit, who founded the shop in 1870). The sides on Dam (S) and Beursplein (N) are five window bays wide and show the same treatment as the corner pavilions on the Damrak side (see there).
Interior old building: central staircase with wall claddings in brown Napoleon marble and stairs in travertine.

The extension is largely hidden from view by adjoining buildings.

Valuation

Department store with original staircase of general importance due to cultural-historical values as the first department store built in the Netherlands as well as of architectural-historical values due to the aesthetic quality of the facade design. Furthermore of urban planning values due to the location on the corner of Damrak and Dam.