De Pijp in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe
Huis met de Kabouters
⎯⎯⎯
House with the Hobgoblins
Inscription.
[Top panel:]
Opdrachtgever dhr. Van Ballgooyen
Bouwjaar 1884
Het 'huis met de kabouters' is een groep van drie etagewoningen uit 1884, ontworpen door A.C. Boerma, en kenmerkt zich door de bijzondere toepassing van vormgeving en materialen. De combinatie van neogotische elementen als spitsbogen en spuwers met kruiskozijnen, natuurstenen blokken en het houtsnijwerk bij de overstekende kappen is opvallend. Opmerkelijk zijn vooral de kabouters die elkaar vanaf de daklijsten een bal lijken toe te werpen.
[Bottom panel:]
Commissioned by mr. Van Ballgooyen
Year of Construction 1884
The huis met de kabouters (house with the hobgoblins) is a group of three apartments from 1884, designed by A.C. Boerma and characterized by the unusual use of form and materials. The combination of Gothic Revival elements such as pointed arches and gargoyles with four-paned windows, natural stone blocks and the woodcarving on the jutting roofs is striking. A particularly remarkable feature is the hobgoblins that seem to be throwing a ball to one another from atop the cornices.
Erected by I Amsterdam.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture.
Location. 52° 21.359′ N, 4° 54.265′ E. Marker is in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland (North Holland). It is in De Pijp. It is on Ceintuurbaan just west of Amsterldijk, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 255 Ceintuurbaan, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland 1074 HT, Netherlands. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Benelux Low Countries, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Polderhuisje (Polder House) (about 240 meters away, measured in a direct line); Herman Gorter (about 240 meters away); Aart Klein (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Franηois and Pierre Hemony (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Jan Steen (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Govert Flinck (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Verzet / Resistance: February 19, 1941 (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Amsterdam.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 23, 2016
3. Huis met de Kabouters / House with the Hobgoblins
Visible here on the left side of the roofline are two hobgoblins, with a gryphon on the top right of the roofline.
There are plenty of stories surrounding the reason for the green hobgoblins. These stories vary from the clients surname (Van Ballegooyen translates roughly as of ball-throwing) to the way in which the construction of the houses came about: the collaboration between two contractors who kept passing the ball to one another, so to speak....The hobgoblins have always appealed to the children of De Pijp, as it seems to be a mystery as to which hobgoblin has the ball. The ball is supposed to be thrown by the hobgoblins in secret, but it is not clear whether this happens at midnight, on New Years Eve or during leap years. -- I Amsterdam
There are plenty of stories surrounding the reason for the green hobgoblins. These stories vary from the clients surname (Van Ballegooyen translates roughly as of ball-throwing) to the way in which the construction of the houses came about: the collaboration between two contractors who kept passing the ball to one another, so to speak....The hobgoblins have always appealed to the children of De Pijp, as it seems to be a mystery as to which hobgoblin has the ball. The ball is supposed to be thrown by the hobgoblins in secret, but it is not clear whether this happens at midnight, on New Years Eve or during leap years. -- I Amsterdam
Credits. This page was last revised on January 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2016, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 578 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 8, 2016, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.

