The Netherlands experienced the heyday of herring fishing at the Westhavenkade and Vetteoordskade in Vlaardingen. From the 17th century onwards, the largest herring fleet in the world was in Vlaardingen. Companies such as herring wholesaler Warmelo & Van der Drift and shipping company Kwakkelstein were the established names from the Westhavenkade at this time. As silent witnesses to that period, there are still many nationally listed fishing warehouses, shipowners’ houses and a boat shed on the WesthavenKade and Vetteoordskade.

FULLHOUSE will transform these heritage buildings into 81 medium-priced and private sector rental properties. With respect for the monumental values, we are currently developing homes that are equipped with all modern convenience and comfort and at the same time radiate the character of this historic place.

The heritage buildings surround the courtyard of the museum quarter where BPD Bouwfonds gebiedsontwikkeling and Dura Vermeer started the construction of 82 contemporary new-build homes in a trendy urban living environment on May 7, 2024. The development of the Museum Quarter is part of the River Zone area development where the Municipality of Vlaardingen is adding 2,500 to 3,100 homes to the city with an ambitious vision.

We will soon start the conservation work on these special heritage buildings, including 10 national monuments. Given the critical condition of the buildings, there is no time to lose. Below we will describe some special objects and we will regularly report on progress in the coming period.

The Sprij buildings

The buildings at Westhavenkade 71, 72 and 73 are better known as ‘the Sprij buildings’. The building with house number 71 was built in 1912 on the site of the former ‘Jagerijpakhuis’ as an office and warehouse for shipping company De Zeeuw and Van Raalt. Before that time, it was a modern building designed by the Vlaardingen architect A. Maarleveld Az. The sculptor Govert van Brandwijk, also from Vlaardingen, is the maker of the bluestone facade stone that sits above the entrance. This stone replaces the original one, which dates from 1673. Van Brandwijk’s facade stone depicts a sailing corner ship with the text ‘1673/De Jagerij/1912’. In this way, the memory of hunting, once indispensable for herring fishing, remains alive forever. Westhavenkade 71 is a national monument and due to the extremely poor condition of the building, we will start work on the maintenance of the monument as soon as possible. We will also restore and transform the former warehouses of numbers 72 and 73 into sustainable homes.

Kwakkelstein

In 1737, the W. Kwakkelstein company had the complex built on the Westhavenkade as a warehouse, shipping company office and upstairs apartment. In the hundred years that followed, the company grew into one of the largest herring traders in the world from the monumental complex. The complex has subsequently been renovated several times. In 1896, the interior masonry and plasterwork of the building was renovated by the Vlaardingen carpenters the Kijne Brothers and it was given its current eclectic appearance. The complex is connected to the nationally monumental modeling shed in the courtyard. Kwakkelstein is a household name in Vlaardingen and many Vlaardingen families have in the past bought ”a bucket of herring” at the rear of the building where the company also sold to private individuals. With the transformation of the complex into homes, we will restore the national monument to its former glory.

The modeling shed

Connected to the Kwakkelstein complex is a monumental modeling shed in the courtyard of the museum quarter. For centuries, up until the last century, Vlaardingen residents expanded and repaired fishing nets here. The dilapidated building will be restored to its former glory within this development with studio homes and light catering as a meeting place for local residents.