The Muurhuizen

Amersfoort is a medieval town in the province of Utrecht, and its historic centre is one of the best-preserved in the Netherlands. It received city rights in the thirteenth century and was enclosed by walls, canals and gates that still shape the layout today. The Muurhuizen, which means wall houses, are among the most characteristic parts of that medieval structure. They are houses that were built up against the town's defensive wall, so that the line of the old fortification survives in the curve of the street.

The idea behind such houses is simple and typical of walled towns. Once the defensive wall lost its military importance, the land and stonework along it became attractive building space, and residents built small dwellings against it, often reusing the old walls as part of their own. In Amersfoort the result is a ring of modest houses that follows the line of the earlier town boundary. The street runs around part of the old centre and gives a sense of how closely the town's streets, water and walls were interwoven.

The architecture is varied and unpretentious. Some houses are plain, with simple brick faces and small windows, while others have decorative gable stones, tall chimneys or later alterations. Gardens and courtyards are tucked behind many of them, and trees line parts of the street, which softens the brick and gives it a green look in summer. Signs and plaques on some buildings tell short stories about them. The cobbled surface and the lack of through traffic make it a pleasant place for a slow walk.

The street fits easily into a longer exploration of the old town. The Koppelpoort is a short distance away, a unique gate that combines a land gate with a water gate and is the most famous monument of Amersfoort. The Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren, a tall church tower, dominates the skyline of the centre. The painter Piet Mondrian was born in Amersfoort, and the Mondriaanhuis presents his early life and works, while Museum Flehite covers the town's history. The canals, known as grachten, add pleasant waterside paths.

The Muurhuizen suit architecture lovers, photographers and visitors who like quiet corners. It is a residential street, so respect privacy and keep noise down. A walk takes only a few minutes, but it is best combined with the Koppelpoort and a visit to the Mondriaanhuis. Amersfoort is easily reached by train from Utrecht and Amsterdam.