Description:
For the past 100 years, the Hendrick de Keyser Association has been committed to the preservation of Dutch houses of historic and architectural value. A special aspect of this non-profit Association’s approach to their work is their commitment to preserving both monumental buildings as well as simple houses, having recognised the importance of both of these types of private dwellings. The 420 properties that have been acquired, preserved and restored thus provide a magnificent cross-section of Dutch architectural, decorative and social history. The Association, named after the 17th- century Dutch architect and sculptor, goes to great lengths to undertake accurate research and to perform appropriate conservation. The Association has collected its houses as a result of legacy or donation from individuals (68 properties), by donation from city-councils, mostly with the obligation to restore the building and give it a new lease of life (56 properties), or by buying them (210 properties), in most cases with the help of private individuals and funds or supported by one of the Dutch lotteries, the BankGiro Loterij. In addition to renovating the buildings, the rehabilitation of entire streets or areas has at times ensued, thanks to the restoration and development of one to three characteristic historic buildings in an otherwise neglected area.