Singel 265, A canal house of rare allure
On the Singel, one of Amsterdam's oldest and most characterful main canals, stands this impressive national monument dating from the Golden Age. Singel 265 is no ordinary home: it is a complete, self-contained canal house of 269 m² of living space on freehold land, offering across five floors an extraordinary combination of historical grandeur and contemporary living comfort. Behind the 10-metre-wide historic Renaissance façade lies a rare blend of authenticity, space and urban elegance.
Location and accessibility
The Singel, in earlier times also known as the Koningsgracht, marks the transition between medieval Amsterdam and the seventeenth-century canal ring. Singel 265 occupies one of the city's most iconic locations. The address is within walking distance of the Jordaan, the Spui, the Nine Streets (De Negen Straatjes) and the Haarlemmerstraat — neighbourhoods offering a wide range of boutiques, daily markets, restaurants and coffee bars. The immediate surroundings combine the vibrancy of the city centre with the calm of the water and the greenery along the canal. Soho House, among others, is just around the corner.
For daily shopping, the Albert Heijn supermarket and the weekly market on the Noordermarkt are only minutes away. Cultural amenities such as the Stedelijk Museum, the Rijksmuseum, the Stadsschouwburg (International Theatre Amsterdam) and countless galleries and theatres are all within cycling distance.
Public transport connections are excellent: various tram and bus lines are within walking distance, and the Noord/Zuid metro line can be reached via Rokin or Spui stations. By bicycle, virtually the entire city is effortlessly accessible. For motorists, the A10 ring road can be reached in approximately ten minutes via the Stadhouderskade or the IJ Tunnel.
Layout
The exceptional architecture of this house reveals itself the moment you step inside on the ground floor. The imposing double-height entrance, with a ceiling height of over four metres, is dominated by a stately white spiral staircase and an original, heavy oak beamed ceiling. Large windows at the front allow the light from the Singel to flow deep into the interior. Behind elegant double doors lies the living room, distinctly classical in character, featuring several charming built-in benches and a cosy open fireplace with an authentic French mantelpiece (Willem Schermerhorn).
Kitchen and courtyard
Towards the rear, on the souterrain level, is the generous eat-in kitchen, fitted with an atmospheric French Lacanche range cooker in blue lacquer with copper handles, Belgian bluestone worktops and hand-painted Delft blue tiles above the stove. The kitchen accommodates a large dining table and, via a hallway, gives access to the picturesque tiled courtyard, an urban oasis with a hand-painted tile tableau, climbing plants and the intimacy of a sheltered patio.
Bel étage — rear house
The rear house contains a second living and sitting room that immediately stands out for its distinctive character. The original beamed ceiling, painted in a deep green, lends the space a warm and intimate atmosphere. A through-view towards the front of the house lets in a remarkable amount of natural light, so that despite its position at the rear, the room feels bright and open.
First floor — rear house
This floor accommodates a spacious bedroom with en-suite bathroom and a terrace connecting the rear house to the front house. The room has a ceiling height of over four metres, allowing the spaciousness of the property to come fully into its own here as well. From this room there is access to a practical storage attic.
First floor — front house
This floor features a spacious sitting room with kitchenette and direct access to the terrace. At the front, the house opens up towards the Singel, the view over the water and the opposite side of the canal is at its finest here. Like the living room downstairs, this sitting room boasts a beautiful mantelpiece with open fireplace. The second bedroom, also located on the canal side, shares the same view.
Second floor — front house
The second floor houses two bedrooms at the front, both with the characteristic view over the Singel and the façades opposite. At the rear, the rooms look out onto the charming gable of the rear house, a secluded, almost picturesque scene that further underlines the special character of this property. This floor is completed by a bathroom with shower, washbasin and toilet.
Third and top floor — front house
At the very top, beneath the ridge of the roof, lies the master bedroom: a generous bedroom with a ceiling height of 3.60 metres, exposed roof trusses and a private bathroom with bath and shower. A space with the feel of a private suite, high above the rooftops of Amsterdam.
The property was largely renovated in 2007. The foundations were restored in the 1970s. The exterior paintwork at the rear was renewed in 2023. As a national monument within a UNESCO World Heritage area, Singel 265 offers not only an exceptional living environment but also the fiscal advantages associated with listed-building status.
Details
Usable floor area of approx. 270 m² (living area 268.7 m², other indoor space 1.3 m² in accordance with NEN 2580)
Gross floor area: 341 m²
Building-related outdoor space: approx. 23 m²
External storage (cellar): approx. 16.5 m²
Freehold land
National monument (rijksmonument)
UNESCO World Heritage
No owners' association (VvE)
Internally renovated between approx. 2007 and 2010; fully renovated in the late 1970s, including foundation repair, by restoration architect Gerard Prins
Marble floors/wall in the hall by Piet Jonker; Italian marble and Dornbracht fittings in the bathrooms
Kitchen fitted with beautiful Belgian bluestone worktops and a Lacanche range cooker
Exterior paintwork at the rear completed in 2023
Transfer in consultation
This information has been compiled by us with due care. However, we accept no liability whatsoever for any incompleteness, inaccuracy or otherwise, or for the consequences thereof. All measurements and surface areas stated are indicative. The buyer has their own obligation to investigate all matters of importance to them. With regard to this property, the estate agent acts as the seller's adviser. We advise you to engage an expert (NVM) estate agent to guide you through the purchase process. Should you have specific wishes regarding the property, we advise you to make these known to your purchasing agent in good time and to have them investigated independently. If you do not engage an expert representative, you are deemed by law to be sufficiently expert to oversee all matters of importance. The NVM conditions apply.
