Amsterdam

Van Breestraat 52, Amsterdam | Charming family house with garden in the heart of the Museum Quarter

There are streets where Amsterdam pauses for breath. Van Breestraat is one of them: wide, quiet and leafy. The Vondelpark, P.C. Hooftstraat and Museumplein are all just a few minutes' walk away. At number 52 stands this entire house of approx. 209 m², arranged over four floors. You'll find an 11-metre-deep through lounge with an open fireplace, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a first-floor terrace and a sunny rear garden with rear access. Two additional bedrooms can easily be created on the first floor. The house is freehold, so there is no ground lease. Since purchasing the property, the current owners have renovated it with great care, inside and out. The result is a turn-key home in one of the most beautiful spots in Oud-Zuid: you can move straight in. The house is currently arranged as a spacious and comfortable home for two, with room for guests. With two extra bedrooms on the first floor, it also becomes a true family home.

The seller says:
"Of all the houses we have ever lived in, this is by far the nicest. Every morning we walk the dog into the Vondelpark in just a few minutes. At lunchtime we eat at Van Dam or browse the little shops on Cornelis Schuytstraat. And in the evening we simply stroll to the Concertgebouw. Everything is close by, and yet home is wonderfully peaceful. Our leaving has nothing to do with the house or our lovely neighbours. We are returning to Bergen aan Zee, to a place where our children and grandchildren can always come home. It is with a heavy heart, but we wish the next residents just as much happiness here as we have had."

Lifestyle | A Saturday at Van Breestraat 52
It's Saturday morning, 8 o'clock. The house is still quiet, and there's no rush. First, downstairs to the private gym on the lower ground floor. Then we grab the lead, because the dog is already waiting at the door, tail wagging. Within minutes we're in the Vondelpark, walking past the ponds and the Blauwe Theehuis. Back home, the morning light pours in through the skylight, the coffee is brewing, and we leaf through the newspaper at the kitchen table.
Next, we walk to the Zuider Markt on Jacob Obrechtplein for fresh bread and cheese, chatting with the neighbours along the way. Here, everyone knows each other. At lunchtime we eat at Van Dam and wander along Cornelis Schuytstraat, past the baker, the butcher and the little boutiques. At Menno Kroon we pick up a big bunch of flowers for the table. On the way back, we take a detour across Museumplein. An hour in the Rijksmuseum, simply because we can. In the late afternoon we pour a glass on the first-floor terrace and enjoy the last of the sun. In the evening, friends come over for dinner. The French doors to the garden are flung open, the table is set outside, and the conversation drifts from everything to nothing. When it cools down outside, the party moves indoors, where the fire is already lit. And then on to the Concertgebouw? We simply walk there. Afterwards, we stroll home in a few minutes through the quiet streets of the Museum Quarter. That's Amsterdam on a Saturday at its very best.

Home tour
Arriving
Van Breestraat is generously laid out, with stately façades and a calm atmosphere. Through the entrance you step straight into the heart of the house.

Living
The through lounge is no less than 11 metres deep, giving you a view from the street all the way through to the garden. Wooden floors give the space a warm, restful foundation. The atmospheric open fireplace is the centrepiece of the room. It's the place for long evenings by the fire, a good book, or friends lingering after dinner.

Cooking
At the rear is the open-plan kitchen, with a new floor and underfloor heating. The kitchen features a five-burner gas hob, an oven, a dishwasher, a fridge-freezer and plenty of cupboard space. Thanks to the skylight and large windows, it's bright here all day long. This is where the day begins with a leisurely breakfast, and where elaborate dinners are cooked in the evening, with the garden close at hand.

Outdoor living
French doors open onto the raised terrace and the rear garden of approx. 26 m². The garden has been completely re-landscaped. In summer it becomes an extra room of the house, for morning coffee in the sunshine or a long table with friends. On the first floor there is a new terrace: the perfect spot for drinks and nibbles as the sun goes down.

Second living room, workspace or two extra bedrooms?
The first floor consists of a second spacious through room. At the front you enjoy an open view over the wide street, and at the rear double French doors open onto the terrace. You can arrange this floor entirely to suit you: as a second living room, home office or playroom. Two additional bedrooms can also easily be created here.

A floor of its own for guests
A spiral staircase leads to the second floor. Here you'll find a generous bedroom with an en-suite bathroom at the front, with a bath and shower, a washbasin, a radiator and a toilet. In the centre is a spacious storage room housing the boiler. Because this floor is entirely self-contained, it makes a wonderful guest retreat for (grand)children or friends from out of town. Everyone has their own space and privacy. It's also an ideal floor for an au pair or a student son or daughter.

The lower ground floor
The lower ground floor is fully fledged, with a ceiling height of 2.55 metres and underfloor heating throughout. The bedroom walls have been additionally insulated and the floor has been newly tiled. At the front are the hallway with cloakroom, plenty of storage space, a separate toilet with hand basin and the meter cupboard. In the middle is a private gym with a full-length built-in wardrobe. Who wouldn't want a gym at home? From here you reach the second bathroom, with a bath and shower, a washbasin and connections for the washing machine and tumble dryer. At the rear you'll find the master bedroom, overlooking the garden and the birds flitting to and fro.

Renovated and comfortable
The current owners have refurbished the house from top to bottom. An alarm system has been installed. There are new tiled floors and carpets, the wooden floors have recently been re-stained, and everything has been repainted inside and out. A second toilet has been added, two air-conditioning units have been fitted, the fireplaces have been given glass doors and a new boiler has been installed. Things are well taken care of below ground too: the foundations were renewed in 2009. That brings peace of mind, especially with an Amsterdam property. In short: here you simply unpack your suitcases and feel at home straight away.

Museum Quarter | Culture, greenery and village-like calm
The Museum Quarter is one of Amsterdam's most sought-after neighbourhoods, and you'll understand why straight away. You live within walking distance of the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk and the Concertgebouw. The Vondelpark is your back garden for walking, running or a Sunday picnic. For everyday shopping and speciality shops, head to Cornelis Schuytstraat and Beethovenstraat. For exclusive boutiques, there's P.C. Hooftstraat. And every Saturday the Zuider Markt is held on Jacob Obrechtplein. Many families live in the area, and you notice it. Well-regarded primary and secondary schools are close by, as are several international schools.

Accessibility
Tram and bus stops are within walking distance, and by car you're quickly on the main arterial roads. The Zuidas is [approx. 10 minutes] away, and Schiphol [approx. 20 minutes]. Parking is on the public road via the permit system.

Features and highlights of this home
+ No owners' association (VvE) and no upstairs or downstairs neighbours
+ Turn-key: you can move straight in
+ Entire house, arranged over four floors
+ Living area 208.60 m², measured in accordance with NEN 2580
+ Freehold, so no ground lease
+ Foundations renewed in 2009
+ Thoroughly renovated after purchase, inside and out
+ 11-metre-deep through lounge with open fireplace
+ New wooden floors
+ Kitchen with new flooring and underfloor heating
+ Completely repainted inside and out
+ Currently two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom
+ Two additional bedrooms can easily be created on the first floor
+ Second floor with bedroom and private bathroom, ideal as a guest floor, for an au pair or for a student son or daughter
+ Fully fledged lower ground floor with 2.55 m ceiling height, underfloor heating, extra insulation and new tiling
+ Private gym on the lower ground floor
+ Additional toilet added
+ Two air-conditioning units
+ Newly landscaped garden with fencing, raised terrace and rear access
+ First-floor terrace
+ Energy label D
+ Prime location in the Museum Quarter, Amsterdam Oud-Zuid
+ Completion by arrangement

Personal invitation
A renovated family house with a garden, the Vondelpark around the corner and the museums within walking distance. A rare find for anyone who wants to live in the heart of Amsterdam, with the space and calm of a real home. Whether there are two of you or a whole family: this house adapts to you. Photos only tell part of the story, so do come and see for yourself.

Curious? Contact Signature Listing to arrange a viewing. I'd be delighted to show you around personally.

Rosalie Zuidema
Register Estate Agent (NVM) | Specialist in distinctive and exclusive homes