'DE GROTE' PUBLISHING CO.
Announces the opening of a new establishment:
De Olijphant
Korte Spaarne 23-25 in Haarlem
These two monumental houses with authentic facade were built around 1630. In the houses behind a brewery called "De Olyphant" was housed since 1550, which has been active until 1688. In the facade at the side of the house a stone has been masoned bearing the depiction of an elephant.
The facade of the buildings were built in the style of the Dutch Renaissance and lavishly equipped with natural rock. However, this building material had to been supplied from Belgium or Germany and subsequently was because of the transport very expensive. The amount of rock used in the facade was therefor an indication of the economic status of the owner who had had the house built. The facades have been masoned "op vlucht", meaning that it has been built slightly stooping. The bricks have been shifted slightly forward while constructing. This is why the facade is about 1 cm forward per ascending meter. The buildings clearly show styles from the 17th, 18th and 19th century architecture. This variation in styles is partly due to the alterations to the classification of the windows. The houses have been restored by initiative of the owner, the association Hendrick de Keyser. Now it is part of the "De Grote" Publishing Co.
Haarlem, Korte Spaarne 23-25
