GREEF, Jan de

(b. 0 , d. 0 )

Dutch architect. He came into contact with architecture through his uncle, the construction manager-carpenter Jan van Dalen. He studied as a pensioner of King Louis Napoleon with Percier and Fontaine in Rome, thus gaining a thorough knowledge of classical architecture. He also attended classes at the painter Martinus Schouman (1770-1848).

Between 1816 and 1820 De Greef occupied the position of ‘architect of the royal palaces’. In this function he designed the interior of the big ballroom and the courtyard of Noordeinde Palace in The Hague and the extension of Soestdijk Palace in Baarn. In 1820 he succeeded Abraham van der Hart as a city architect in charge of Amsterdam’s ‘city factory office’ (Amsterdam knows a Jan de Greef street). As such, he was responsible for the construction of the Palace of Justice.

His son, Bastiaan de Greef Janszoon (1818-1899), was later also a city architect of Amsterdam.

Exterior view

The Kneuterdijk Palace, located in The Hague, was once a Royal Palace of the Kings of the Netherlands. Built in 1716 in the Louis XIV style by architect Daniel Marot, it was first home to the Count of Wassenaar-Obdam. The the courtyard is the work of Jan de Greef.

The photo shows the courtyard fa�ade.

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Interior view

The Noordeinde Palace in the centre of The Hague has been a palace of the Royal House since 1609 when the state presented it to William of Orange’s widow as a gift. Today, the Dutch monarch uses it as a working palace.

The photo shows the ballroom which was patterned after the Egyptian Hall described by Vitruvius. This was a hall with double colonnade, which in Greek architecture was given a basilican cross-section with light entering from a triforium. Palladio resurrected this building type and passed it on to English Neoclassical architects, who in turn were probably the inspiration for de Greef.

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