Dutch House, The
Why it's listed
Built for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, this four-story house at 20 Netherlands Road in Brookline began as the display building of the Van Houten Cocoa Company. It copies the 1591 town hall at Francker in Friesland, Holland, and was constructed in Holland and Belgium before being erected in Chicago. It was one of the few privately erected buildings at the fair to win a medal. After the exposition, Captain Charles Brooks Appleton bought it at auction and had it moved to Brookline, with Kingsbury and Richardson planning the reconstruction. Its high mansard roof carries a dome and bell tower, and the windows hold about 12,000 leaded green lights. The interior includes carved doors and panels from Hindeloopen, oak panelling from Flemish dwellings and Delft tiles. Its exterior was covered in Portland cement. The property was listed for its connection to the Exposition and as the town's most authentic example of Dutch Renaissance design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a direct copy of the 1591 town hall at Francker, Friesland, and is considered the most authentic example of Dutch High Renaissance architecture in America. It is also significant for its link to the 1893 Columbian Exposition, where it won a medal, and for its association with Captain Charles Brooks Appleton, who moved it to Brookline.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86000093, listed January 24, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 20 Netherlands Rd., Brookline |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | January 24, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000093 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | M. Guillaume Wyuen (original architect); Kingsbury and Richardson of Boston (reconstruction plans); E.F. McIntire of Salem (interior plans) |
| Architectural style | Dutch High Renaissance |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; alterations include a replaced sill in 1950 and a doctor's office installed in the basement in 1962. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.33609, -71.11227 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86000093.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7731265
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.