Commiezenhuis, Sluisplein 24

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

Former CUSTOMS OFFICER'S HOUSE located on the corner of Sluisplein and Visseringstraat, built in 1876 on behalf of the Department of Finance. The property, situated on a masonry elevation, formed part of a series of seven attached service dwellings of the clearance service responsible for collecting excise duties and import duties. As a result of war damage, six of the seven dwellings were demolished. Apart from the roof dormer dating from the 1950s on the eastern roof plane and the modern roof tiles (concrete quick-cover tiles), the exterior remains in virtually its original condition. The interior is currently (autumn 1998) not accessible.

Description

Property built on a rectangular ground plan, one storey high under a gabled roof with the ridge line perpendicular to Sluisplein. To the rear right there is a small rectangular extension under a lean-to roof with the same ridge direction and at the ridge end rear right a rectangular chimney of red machine-made brick. The ridge of the gabled roof has two chimneys executed in the latter-mentioned masonry, the front one with a square cross-section and the rear one rectangular. The outer walls above a (white-washed) plinth are constructed in red machine-made Flemish bond brick with struck joints and provided with quoins. The front and left side facades facing the street are enlivened by yellow brick at the following locations: the springings and "keystones" of the segmental arches above the windows, a ring course at sill level, a band at the height of the alternating sills of the windows, and a band composed of yellow and red brick headers at the height of the upper sills. The front and rear facades are executed as a spout gable with an overhanging spout supported on two small lesenes and at the top of the quoins a shoulder projecting to the side, topped with a half-hip. In contrast to the austere rear facade, the front facade (N) is terminated by a rising frieze. The front facade has on the ground floor two arched six-pane sash windows and to the right an entrance door with arched fanlight. Above in the middle is a smaller similar sash window. The left side facade facing Visseringstraat (O) is closed off by two projecting courses of masonry beneath which runs a dentil course. To the left of the centre there are two arched six-pane sash windows. The right side facade (W), the former party wall with the adjacent building, is blank.

The rear facade (S) has to the right a six-pane sash window, above in the middle a smaller four-pane sash window, and wall anchors at the height of the roof beams.

The rectangular elevation on which the property stands is masonry of red Flemish bond brick with full bed joint and provided on the front with a batter. The top of the elevation is paved to the left of the house with yellow brick.

Assessment

The property is of general importance due to cultural-historical, architectural-historical and typological value as a largely well-preserved customs officer's house from the last quarter of the 19th century. Moreover, the property has ensemble value in relation to the adjacent former telephone exchange and the nearby former lock keeper's dwellings, due to the historical connection of this built environment with the locks and the North Sea Canal.