Bolwoningen

The Bolwoningen — "Ball Houses" — are 50 concrete spheres on stilts arranged along a canal in the northwest of Den Bosch, one of the most distinctive pieces of experimental housing in the Netherlands. Built in 1984 to a design by Dries Kreijkamp, each sphere sits on a concrete pole above the water, with circular windows and a characteristic alien-settlement appearance that draws visitors from all over the country.

The houses are lived in and not open to visit inside, but the exterior and the canal setting are striking enough to justify the 20-minute walk from the old town centre. They photograph well. The surrounding neighbourhood is ordinary Dutch suburban housing, which makes the contrast even more startling.

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A story
The sphere-shaped houses were designed by Dutch architect Dries Kreijkamp, who spent decades developing the concept of spherical living spaces before finally getting permission to build 50 of them in Den Bosch in 1984. Kreijkamp's idea was that round rooms, without corners, would be psychologically calming and encourage a circular, harmonious way of living. The current residents are said to be divided on this theory, but most have found creative solutions to the problem of where to put a bookshelf.

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