House Willet-Holthuysen

Canal house:  House Willet-Holthuysen

Step back in time at the impressive House Willet-Holthuysen, located in the heart of Amsterdam. This grand double canal house on the Herengracht features beautifully furnished rooms that have been preserved to reflect their original appearance. The French formal garden offers a peaceful oasis amidst the bustling canal district. In 2025, Huis Willet-Holthuysen was awarded a Michelin Star as a cultural attraction.

The house takes its name from the couple who lived here in the late 19th century: Abraham Willet and Louisa Holthuysen. Passionate collectors of art and decorative objects, they designed the interior according to their personal taste and vision. Even in their own time, the house was regarded as a tribute to a romanticized past.

For the couple, the lavish interior was a way to share their wealth and refined tastes with others. Following Louisa Holthuysen’s death in 1895, she willed the house and its collection to the City of Amsterdam, with the wish that it would become a museum. More than a century later, House Willet-Holthuysen remains open to visitors and is now one of the locations of the Amsterdam Museum.

Experience the Elegance of Amsterdam’s Elite

During your visit, you can explore elegantly decorated reception rooms, the dining room, and the ballroom, offering a fascinating glimpse into the lifestyle of Amsterdam’s affluent elite at the end of the 19th century. The historic kitchen and servants’ quarters are also open to the public, providing insight into the daily life behind the scenes of a wealthy canal house. The beautifully landscaped French garden, one of the few historic canal-side gardens in Amsterdam that can still be visited today, completes the experience.