Mysteries of Holland (II)
By topffer
@topffer (42156)
France
August 11, 2019 10:32am CST
I have often preconceived ideas about the utility of things. For example, if you ask me the utility of shutters, I shall tell you that they protect against burglars (many insurance providers are refusing to insure a house with no shutters in my country), protect against the heat of the sun in summer and the cold of the night in winter, permit to sleep without being disturbed by the lights of the neighborhood...
Then you see these things... Half shutters
...
The pictures were taken in The Hague. 1 and 2 (starting from the left) in the Binnenhof, which is the center of the legislative and executive powers in the Netherlands : the buildings around this courtyard are hosting the offices of the Prime Minister and the two houses of the Parliament, among others. The first photo shows a side of the Binnenhof on early morning with the shadow of the Ridderzaal and its towers. All my good photos are done by accident, this one was not an exception. The Ridderzaal is a 13th C building where the king gives a speech every year for the opening session of the Parliament. Photo 2 shows a wall of the Ridderzaal with its windows and... weird shutters.
You may think that it is a king’s fantasy, but, no. The brick house on photo 3 was the last house of the wisest man in the Netherlands during the 17th C, Spinoza (Google the name if you never heard it), and as you see it has the same kind of shutters, covering only half of the windows.
OMG ! what is the use of such shutters ? They do not protect against burglars, sun, light, cold... Is the wood too rare or too expensive in Holland ? Another unsolved mystery !
...
The pictures were taken in The Hague. 1 and 2 (starting from the left) in the Binnenhof, which is the center of the legislative and executive powers in the Netherlands : the buildings around this courtyard are hosting the offices of the Prime Minister and the two houses of the Parliament, among others. The first photo shows a side of the Binnenhof on early morning with the shadow of the Ridderzaal and its towers. All my good photos are done by accident, this one was not an exception. The Ridderzaal is a 13th C building where the king gives a speech every year for the opening session of the Parliament. Photo 2 shows a wall of the Ridderzaal with its windows and... weird shutters.
You may think that it is a king’s fantasy, but, no. The brick house on photo 3 was the last house of the wisest man in the Netherlands during the 17th C, Spinoza (Google the name if you never heard it), and as you see it has the same kind of shutters, covering only half of the windows.
OMG ! what is the use of such shutters ? They do not protect against burglars, sun, light, cold... Is the wood too rare or too expensive in Holland ? Another unsolved mystery !14 people like this
12 responses
@thelme55 (76477)
• Germany
11 Aug 19
We called that here in Germany, the Holland Fenster (window). There are some kinds of Holland windows here in Germany as the owners of the houses love this style of window. I have seen these windows every time I am in Holland but I have not thought about why it has been made like this. I think I will ask my dutch brother-in-law about the story of this window when I will be there again. I want to know the mystery about it.
3 people like this
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@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
17 Aug 19
that is quite a mystery . But thanks for the lovely photos and explainations.2 people like this
@much2say (53907)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Aug 19
You would say the same about the shutters on our house 
. . . they are not functional . . . just decor to make the window areas appear more spacious 
. It seems many of the houses in "our" style have similar outdoor shutters that do nothing - though some have chosen to eliminate them. So now I learn that shutters really can do something . . . if only ours were functional .
. . . they are not functional . . . just decor to make the window areas appear more spacious . It seems many of the houses in "our" style have similar outdoor shutters that do nothing - though some have chosen to eliminate them. So now I learn that shutters really can do something . . . if only ours were functional .2 people like this
@much2say (53907)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Aug 19
@topffer This kind of "decor" is all over the neighborhoods here. Really they are just the shutter doors that are probably hung and nailed - not even hinged. Zero function. Well, I take that back . . . they are great for hanging holiday decorations on . The funny thing is, I never thought about their functionality - I've seen it this way all my life and can't think of anyone locally who has "real" shutters. I guess we have very different shutter experiences .
. The funny thing is, I never thought about their functionality - I've seen it this way all my life and can't think of anyone locally who has "real" shutters. I guess we have very different shutter experiences .2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
16 Aug 19
perhaps 'tis certain times 'f the day when the sunlight strikes 't jest the correct angle there'd be a need to block the glare. like desk height? yet still wish to've the natural light :)
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
17 Aug 19
@topffer ya could be correct, i can't tell if'n those're workable hinges 'r not. yep, privacy'd be a good thingy whilst still lettin' natural light 'nto the rooms.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (155566)
• United States
11 Aug 19
They look like a Dutch door. I rather like them.
3 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
28 Aug 19
Maybe they want the best of both worlds
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (48887)
• United States
31 Aug 19
I don't recall seeing shutters like this before.
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
31 Aug 19
@Tampa_girl7 How old were you when you left Germany ?
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (48887)
• United States
31 Aug 19
@topffer I left Germany so many years ago that if I saw them I don't recall.
1 person likes this
