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Kerkplein

The former headquarters of the insurance company De Nederlanden van 1845 on Kerkplein in The Hague was designed by H.P. Berlage in 1895–1896. The building was one of his earliest major commissions and marked the beginning of a long relationship between Berlage and the company’s director, Carel Henny.

The office occupies a prominent position opposite the Grote Kerk and close to The Hague’s historic city hall. Its compact volume and carefully articulated façade respond directly to the surrounding historic urban fabric.

Berlage combines brick and natural stone with a rich architectural vocabulary. Sculptural elements by Lambertus Zijl are incorporated into the façade and refer to themes associated with insurance, including time, death and fire. The building therefore communicates the identity of its client directly through its architecture.

Although ornament is still clearly present, the design marks a departure from the historical revival styles that dominated architecture at the time. Decoration is increasingly integrated into the structure and composition of the building rather than being applied as a separate layer.

The office was subsequently enlarged in 1901 and 1909 as the company expanded. These additions transformed the original building into the larger complex visible today.

The Kerkplein office represents an important early stage in Berlage’s development towards rationalism, demonstrating his growing interest in the relationship between structure, material, ornament and function.