Dutch curtains. Traditions of the Netherlands

Dutch-style windows are non-standard and rather tall rectangular structures, divided into equal squares or rectangles. The number of such elements varies from 4 to 20, depending on the size of the window and the wishes of the customer.

To fully comply with the style, on the facade side, the windows are framed with platbands. Their design can be discreet or, on the contrary, brighter and more contrasting. Previously, they were made of stone or wood, which was covered with lime or clay. Today it is polyurethane or wood composite. As a decoration, the facade is additionally decorated with stone or decorative plaster.

Dutch style window

Features of the Dutch style

The architectural style can be described in three words: simplicity, functionality and comfort. Its interiors are simple and comfortable to live in.

If speak about appearance building in the Dutch style, its facade is undoubtedly recognizable. Clean lines, discreet finishing. The windows are located symmetrically relative to the center of the facade.

The color scheme is simple: red, gray, brown and their shades, complemented by contrasting white elements.

The main feature of the Dutch style is that in external and interior decoration Only natural materials are used. If these are walls, then brick, if they are windows, then wood. Tile and glass are also used.

IN modern world Window structures can also be made from plastic, giving it a wood design. This option also applies. But true wood has its own warmth and, most importantly, a pleasant smell.

Opening window in Dutch style

To add contrast to the home's exterior, window frames usually painted in White color. For a complete immersion in style, you can add shutters. In our region they are not so necessary, but they will definitely give the building an external flavor.

Dutch style windows made of solid pine

Such products are practical, beautiful and comfortable. Modern paint coatings significantly extend their service life. They perfectly withstand all the fluctuations of nature. And they demand minimal care in the form of rubbing soap solution if necessary.

Dutch window close up

Conclusion

Dutch style will suit for those who value coziness and comfort, but do not tolerate excessive pathos.

The Dutch architecture of buildings once greatly impressed Peter I himself, and as a result, today this style is an integral part of our city of St. Petersburg.

You can order Dutch-style windows by phone or by leaving a request on our website. We are waiting for you in our office.

Frames and windows EXCELLENT quality, ENVIRONMENTALLY CLEAN, BEAUTIFUL!!

Travelers arriving in Holland for the first time pay attention to the lack of curtains on the windows of houses. For us, such a way of life seems completely unthinkable. Curtains or blinds on windows are an integral part of the interior of apartments and office premises. But the Dutch get along just fine without them.

There is a reason for this tradition that goes back to the distant past.

How the Dutch manage without curtains

A strange, from our point of view, tradition originated in Holland in the 16th century. The local population rebelled against the rule of the Spaniards and catholic church. Protestants gathered in houses and held church meetings. The governor of the Dutch territories of Spain, the Duke of Alba, issued an order prohibiting the closing of windows in houses. So he sought to take control of the local residents. Despite this and the brutal suppression of the rebels, Holland still gained independence. But the ban on curtains has already become a tradition. Local residents were in no hurry to close their windows from prying eyes. There are several reasons for this:

• The Dutch demonstrate their openness in this way. They show everyone that they live honestly and have nothing to hide.
• The interior of the houses requires a minimum of furniture. Thick, heavy curtains clearly do not fit into this picture.
• Holland - northern country. There are not many sunny days here. During the winter months, daylight hours are very short. Therefore, local residents prefer to keep their windows open to sunlight.

On the Dutch windows you can only see light lace curtains. They love to decorate window sills with figurines and flowerpots.

Walking around the city you can see the life of the Dutch in their houses. You can admire beautiful chandeliers, elegant interior, see how a family with children in cozy home suits and white socks spend the evening together. But the Dutch themselves are not interested in the lives of their neighbors. They never look into their windows.

The once forcibly imposed tradition of not covering windows with curtains has appealed to open and honest people. It has become an integral feature of Dutch cities today, giving the country an attractive atmosphere of openness and trust.

There is a belief that closed dark curtains on the windows during the day they scare away personal happiness. But if light enters a room, it is not only beneficial for the energy of the house, but also attracts good luck, love, and makes people happy. Maybe that's why there are no curtains on the windows in Holland? Or are they just skimping on curtains?

IN different countries- its own traditions and characteristics. Holland is no exception. Here It is customary not to hang curtains on windows. There are several reasons for this custom:

• historical;
• economic;
• political.

Dutch interest in personal life neighbors, acquaintances and people simply surrounding them has nothing to do with simple curiosity. More likely, this is a mentality and a principled position in life, indifference to everything that surrounds them.

Local residents believe that curtains do not need to be hung for peace of mind, prevention and prevention of illegal actions. Residents of Holland joke that for every resident there is practically one “policeman” from among the neighbors. The local population is attentive to maintaining order and neat execution established rules and norms of behavior.
That’s why they don’t draw the curtains here, they say, “look, check, we have nothing to hide. Everything with us is orderly, noble and according to the law.”

How the tradition began

The history of this custom dates back to from the 16th century. The king appointed the cruel Fernando Alvarez de Tolero, the third Duke of Alba, as local viceroy. During his short four-year reign in the Spanish Netherlands, more than 18,000 ordinary citizens were executed. Among the many prohibitions was the taboo on closed windows. The Duke was afraid of secret associations of townspeople and unauthorized meetings. And thanks open windows, this can be prevented.

After some time, the King of Spain recalled Alba from the Netherlands. A revolution took place, the people won.
However, the order about “unclosed windows” caught on with the townspeople. They turned it into a tradition that meant “we have nothing to hide, we live righteously as Christians.”

And so this bright and unusual feature, which leaves visitors with an amazing impression of the Netherlands.

Looking into other people's windows is not the Dutch way!

IMPORTANT! The Dutch have another equally wonderful tradition. They never look into other people's open windows!

Peering through glass is considered indecent and equates to rudeness and bad manners.. It's like spying on someone in the toilet or through a keyhole. Local residents are well-mannered and highly value personal space. They They are busy with their own lives and invading someone else’s is bad manners for them.

Tourists are slightly shocked by this “openness”. After all, as a rule, other nations, on the contrary, build their houses behind fences. There is even an expression “My home is my castle.” However, it is this tradition that gives Dutch cities and their inhabitants an incomparable and special appearance.

This is interesting! It should be noted that the windows in local houses are usually large, covering the entire wall, some even reaching the floor. Walking by, you can really see someone else's life.

But good upbringing and a sense of tact, together with the fear of invading personal space, give city dwellers a feeling of security in their own home.

Could you live with Dutch openness to everyone?

All more people in the world, when choosing a house project, they lean towards simplicity, comfort on the one hand, and practicality on the other. In this sense, the Dutch style is best suited: architecture and interior design combine maximum functionality and comfort of the home. At the same time, the Dutch style is beautiful country houses, with relief areas and colorful carpets of flowers.

History of origin

The Dutch style was formed during the golden age of the development of art in the Netherlands (XVII century). It flourished from 1625 to 1665 and dominated the architecture of the United Provinces. At this time, all areas of artistic creativity are rapidly developing in the country and powerful schools are being formed. Such prominent architects as Hendrik de Keyser, Jacob Van Kampen, Justus Fingboons work here, who created wonderful monuments and works of architecture.

The main principle of Dutch architecture - functionality - was determined by difficult natural and climatic conditions, as well as a shortage of space for construction. This style has something in common with and with. Most of The soil in the country is swampy and unstable, so the main emphasis of the builders was on the strength of the foundations of the structures. As for the criteria of beauty in architecture and design, they evolved along with the change in cultural, historical and political conditions that shaped style trends in construction. So, usefulness, durability and beauty became the basis of what came to be called the Dutch artistic style.

However, the Dutch traveled all the time, thereby adopting many trends from other countries, in particular from England, France, Germany and Italy. National traditions, preserved from, have always been of paramount importance for the inhabitants of the Netherlands, however, they actively passed through themselves and external influences. General stylistic trends in art, especially the Renaissance, were reflected in the art of the Dutch and at the same time received their own interpretation.

Modern direction

Today, the Dutch style in the interior is preferred by those who do not like complex designs, but strive for comfort, warmth and simplicity. Northern, a little mysterious country has always been associated with stories of sailing and tulips. That is why two trends are clearly visible in the Dutch style: marine and floral elements in the interior.

A modern interior in the Dutch style can be recognized by one characteristic feature: finishing the house inside and outside with red brick. This is environmentally friendly pure material often decorate separate areas in the hallway, living room or kitchen.

Another feature of the style is the use various sizes. Currently, the appearance of Dutch cities is changing, and quite rapidly. However, with all the dynamism and modernization, the architecture is still faithful to its historical traditions. These include wooden shutters, original design windows, drainage systems.

Dutch style is suitable for decoration country house or dachas. A piece of the Netherlands can be created not only in the house, but also on the site.

Landscape design

Landscaping in the Dutch style is especially popular, especially if the plot is small. The plants used to decorate the patio and garden are unpretentious and suitable for our climate. The free layout and pastoral flavor will naturally fit into the countryside space.

Despite the shortage land plots, Dutch gardens are bright and cheerful, thanks to the use of variegated flowers, as if scattered in spots on a well-groomed lawn. Evergreens are very common dwarf trees and shrubs: they do not take up much space and do not shade other plants. Herbaceous perennials, mixborders add elegance at any time of the year.

On flat areas spindles and bullingrins (artificial elevations) will be used to give relief to the landscape. This allows you to create terraces and waterfalls.

Inner courtyards are decorated with garden objects (a wheelbarrow as a flower pot, a decorative well, a clay pot, animal sculptures, etc.), which makes it possible to imitate the countryside. Used for tracks a natural stone or decorative paving. Attention is also paid to the arrangement of gazebos covered with climbing plants. All this beauty is practically not covered by a fence, except perhaps a hedge.

Architecture

The development path of Dutch architecture was determined by specific natural conditions and social structure. Residents were constantly forced to fight the ocean, which threatened to flood part of the country. This led to the construction of various dams and dams, locks and canals. Big cities(Amsterdam, Haarlem) are characterized by an abundance of water, greenery, and a peculiar appearance of buildings descending almost to the water itself. City buildings (town halls, shopping arcades, exchanges, burgher houses) with high, steep roofs, multi-tiered pediments on the facades were built of red brick and traditionally finished with white stone.

The second half of the 17th century was the time when classicism flourished in the country. The Dutch version was more simplified and dry. Baroque and Holland also did not pass by, but the luxury and beauty of these styles acquired a more functional focus among the Dutch.

Most of the buildings in the Netherlands are striking in their inclination. Some of them are tilted forward, others, on the contrary, fall back. The effect of asymmetry is visible everywhere to the naked eye. This is explained by the specifics of the soil: the area is very swampy and it is difficult to drive piles into it. The buildings are mostly three-story, with semi-basements and high ceilings. All buildings differ in their density. The gables of buildings are usually made in a triangular style with divisions into tiers. The brickwork contrasts with the white stone. There are elements of carved decor and stucco.

Interior

The Dutch style in the interior is distinguished by moderation and simplicity, convenience and maximum practicality. Each item and element hides high functionality. In addition, a feature of the Dutch was their love for unusual things, exotic.

A Dutch-style room immediately becomes recognizable by such features as:

• large windows, rough textured walls;
• (globes, maps, steering wheels, seascapes, ships, which strongly resembles the Mediterranean style);
• use of symbols of the Netherlands (tulips, clogs, windmills);
• ceramic tile with a thematic pattern;
• blue and white dishes (“Delft blue”);
• simple wooden furniture.

Color spectrum

Dutch style homes are light, with bright, cheerful accents of yellow and blue colors. Characteristic colors: white, blue, light blue, light grey, yellow, green, brown, brick. The distribution of shades largely depends on the purpose of the room. The kitchen looks great in brown tones. Beige ones are more suitable for the bedroom and in general light shades. It is better to decorate the living room in yellow color using brickwork to decorate areas near the fireplace and windows. It is better to decorate the bathroom with tiles in beige tones with pink and blue splashes.

Materials

Preference is given natural materials(wood, stone, ceramics, glass, brick). They can be interestingly combined. A typical example is the combination of brickwork with granite plaster.

Floor and walls

Most striking feature Dutch interior– decoration of the walls of the premises with red brick, which goes well with modern appliances and furniture . Using brickwork, you can divide the space of a room into zones.

Much attention is paid to the ceiling. Here you need to fix wooden beams, matching the color of the floor. If the height of the ceiling does not allow the fastening of beams, then it is left pure white.

Wooden parquet is suitable for the floor dark color(or laminate to look like natural wood). The main rule is the darkest possible shade flooring to create contrast with furniture, ceilings and walls. Ceramic tiles that imitate natural stone will also be suitable for some rooms in the house.

Window

A Dutch-style interior necessarily requires large (often right up to the floor) windows that are not draped with curtains or curtains. Only thin, light tulle on windows is allowed. There should be a lot of light in the room. Classic Dutch windows are “9 panes”, that is, divided into 9 parts by bars.

Furniture

Dutch style implies simplicity, so there should be little furniture. And all of it is a little massive, even somewhat rough. Straight, strict table self made, the same chairs are adjacent to a wooden cabinet for dishes. Behind its doors there are always cups and plates made of blue and white porcelain. Wicker chairs are very appropriate in the interior of the dining room, and more elegant furniture is selected for the bedroom. The living room is primarily associated with a fireplace; it is also necessary to place a sofa there. The main thing is not to clutter the space with too much furniture. Only what is needed is selected.

Decor and accessories

Items marine theme– obligatory ambience of the interior in the Dutch style. In addition, paintings by Dutch artists on the walls, animal horns, original lamps, rugs and handmade carpets. The Dutch are connoisseurs natural beauty, therefore, vases, jugs and flower pots should be in all rooms. Also relevant here are items such as antique chest, wooden bench, cast iron stand.

Dutch interior beauty

conclusions

Dutch style combines simplicity, comfort, practicality and functionality, just like. This is a fairly calm style, so it will suit people of the same temperament. It is also suitable for travel lovers: it will create an atmosphere of eternal wanderings across the seas and oceans. Scandinavian style and Dutch.

Today, the Dutch style is successfully used not only for decorating houses, cottages, apartments, but also in restaurants, cafes, and bars. Such premises are located to have a wonderful holiday in an atmosphere of comfort and tranquility. also has the same calming properties.

In ethnic version:

Imagine the greenery of gardens on the flat Dutch landscapes, and among this green splendor, the whitewashed plastered facades of houses, fastened and supported by beams, posts and crossbars darkened with time.

Isn’t it true that the picturesque works of the “little Dutchmen” immediately come to mind, thanks to which the Dutch home is so famous.

They made us see the ordinary, everyday beauty of seemingly insignificant everyday little things, and created such types of painting as everyday interiors and still life. Their canvases breathe coziness, and the quiet life of things reveals a special meaning and simple beauty.

Interior features, finishing

Like all others, the Dutch style has a number of its own distinctive features, distinguishing it from the motley range of its brethren. To such characteristic features applies:

• A phenomenal combination of natural (wood and stone) and man-made (tiles, ceramics, brick), but no less natural materials.

One of the most important elements Dutch style – decorative brickwork unplastered walls. She looks great both outside and inside. interior decoration premises.

But if you don’t like the brick “nude” look, you can easily replace it with unpainted, unpasted wallpaper, wooden walls(panels), or simply paint them in shades of light ocher or pale blue.

Floor, ceiling and furniture style

Dutch style flooring is usually made from natural wood or stone, although ceramic tiles that imitate natural stone, piece parquet and even high-quality laminate.

The ceiling is whitewashed and decorated with decorative or working crossbars made of wood darkened by time.

To match the ceiling crossbars and furniture. Straightforward, austere and even slightly rough chairs with a massive handmade table are adjacent to the invention of the Dutch - a pile for dishes with glass doors separated by bars, in the manner of classic Dutch “9-pane” windows, and shelves lined with a variety of blue and white dishes.

And darkened by time wooden chests of drawers blends very organically with simple forms armchairs upholstered in leather or fabric and an openwork old bronze chandelier.

Window

The Dutch style is especially worth noting for its windows. As mentioned above, they are classically divided into 9 parts by a lattice, high and often right up to the floor, crystal washed and completely devoid of curtains.

Although city life with a high population density nevertheless made its own adjustments: in order not to confuse the neighbors, they began to curtain the windows opposite with thin swirled tulle.

Accessories

The Dutch style acquires its special chic and aroma thanks to its inherent accessories:

• the finest painting of stove tiles decorating the center of the living room and the constant attribute - the fireplace,
• and the massive roughness of the table of peasant work,
• the wood of the shelves, darkened by time, and the boiling white, lacy foam of openwork napkins on them,
• old ceramic thick dishes and burning, polished copper teapots with gracefully curved handles.

Special antique gourmets, of course, will try to find in antique shops antique Dutch clocks with an organ chime, antique or stylized in the 17th-18th centuries geographic Maps, paintings and prints in simple black frames or vintage globe. Well, behind the transparency of the window, a flower bed with tulips of all stripes will look unusually “Dutch”.