Museum Het Schip

The city’s most famous example of Amsterdam School architecture is a bus ride west to Zaanstraat. The movement’s designs were influenced by the socialist ideals of architect Hendrik Berlage and are epitomized by heavy use of brickwork, elaborate masonry, spiky towers, painted glass, and wrought-iron work. Michel de Klerk (1884–1923) was the leading exponent of the school and designed his seminal building Het Schip to resemble an ocean liner; the brick complex incorporated social housing, a school, and a post office. The latter is the only one of De Klerk’s interiors currently open to the public but at the time of press the school was being restored and is set for opening in late 2014.