Gable Stones

If one looks up when just walking around in the centre of an old Dutch town, one may discover a world of delights. There is hardly any country with such a wealth of gable stones and fanlights (or overlights). Think of Edam, Monnickendam, Hoorn, Enkhuizen , towns North of Amsterdam, and in the South of Heusden, Woudrichem, and even further south Veere, Middelburg and many other towns. Leyden also boasts many gable stones and a small book was published claiming to contain each and every of them in that old university town. In some places new gables stones are added, a delightful custom. The older gable stones often refer to the trades of the former inhabitants, with obvious signs for butchers, fishermen and milkmen or farmers. But the history of the colourful gable stones is not always clear. There is a website which aims to list all the gable stones, starting with Dutch cities and that accomplished extending their inventory to neighbouring countries.

Here are a few gable stones which I took photos of.

 Top and below: Alkmaar

 Brielle

 Brielle

Brielle

 Brielle

 Brielle

A modern gable stone; Brielle

Enkhuizen

Gouda

Heusden

Heusden

Edam

Edam

 Haarlem

 Haarlem

Haarlem

 Monnickendam

 Monnickendam

 Monnickendam

 Monnickendam

 Monnickendam. Who wouldn't want to live in a house enveloped by a guardian angel? At present it is even for sale, situated on a picturesque canal.

Monnickendam.

Several of the gable stones are surely quite modern. But there are also very old ones.

Monnickendam