House Bonck

A Room Like a ship

Huis Bonck features a unique hanging room that is literally suspended from the beams. With its wooden paneling, low ceiling, and water views, it feels almost like being aboard a ship. 
This is the only room in the house with a single, clear purpose: the office. The word "office" comes from the French word 'comptoir,' meaning money chest or counter. This is likely where merchant Bonck kept his money chest.

Linens of the Highest Quality

Beautiful linens were the pride of every household in the seventeenth century. They were preferred to be immaculately white and perfectly starched. The height of the linen stacks in the cupboard reflected the household's wealth: the higher the stacks, the more prosperous the family. People had to save up significantly for a good trousseau, which is why the linen press is displayed prominently in the front room.

From Bed to Kitchen

The inner room was where the household activities took place. Cooking by the hearth, eating at the table, and then sleeping warmly in the box bed. Have you ever stepped straight from your bed into the kitchen?

A Bustling Household

The front room of Huis Bonck is five meters high. This was not by chance; it allowed more light to enter, extending working hours. And work they did...
Huis Bonck offers a stunning view over the water. Historically, this proximity to water was crucial. Today, you see a peaceful marina, but merchant Bonck's view from his hanging room was quite different. He saw the bustling Zuiderzee and the ships anchored there, with the quay full of activity.

"Houses like this, with so many historical features, can be counted on one hand"

Pauline Dorhout

Coordinator of Huis Bonck and Huis Barnaart