De Olyphant
De Olyphant
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
21 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
7
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Noraatc
Sudbury, MA39,726 contributions
Sep 2023 • Solo
One of many atmospheric spots along the Spaarne is the building with authentic crow-stepped gables, De Olyphant, one of the major old breweries in the city. It faces another lovely spot, the white drawbridge, Gravestenenbrug. Near De Olyphant, you can board a boat to do a canal cruise.
Written October 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,272 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
Strolling through Haarlem, we were struck by the number of beautiful, historic buildings. It’s one of the things that makes Haarlem such a charming city.
The two De Olyphant (Elephant) houses, with their classic crow-stepped gables and distinctively patterned brickwork, caught our eye immediately.
They are picture-perfect, standing alongside the Spaarne River, opposite the Gravestone Bridge.
We were surprised to learn that they were originally built as a brewery.
Until 1688, this was the De Olyphant beer brewery - today they are residential houses.
Strangely, the houses seem to lean dangerously forward, teetering towards the river. It did not look very stable and initially we thought this was subsidence. Or perhaps the weight of the gable was pulling the upper facade forward? Was Haarlem itself was on a tilt? However it was none of these. Instead the odd-looking pitch was quite deliberate. It simply made it an awful lot easier to hoist furniture and goods up to the higher floors.
It’s not known for sure when the houses were built but it’s thought to be around 1606 when the original De Olyphant brewery burnt down.
They were restored between 1968 and 1976.
The two De Olyphant (Elephant) houses, with their classic crow-stepped gables and distinctively patterned brickwork, caught our eye immediately.
They are picture-perfect, standing alongside the Spaarne River, opposite the Gravestone Bridge.
We were surprised to learn that they were originally built as a brewery.
Until 1688, this was the De Olyphant beer brewery - today they are residential houses.
Strangely, the houses seem to lean dangerously forward, teetering towards the river. It did not look very stable and initially we thought this was subsidence. Or perhaps the weight of the gable was pulling the upper facade forward? Was Haarlem itself was on a tilt? However it was none of these. Instead the odd-looking pitch was quite deliberate. It simply made it an awful lot easier to hoist furniture and goods up to the higher floors.
It’s not known for sure when the houses were built but it’s thought to be around 1606 when the original De Olyphant brewery burnt down.
They were restored between 1968 and 1976.
Written July 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bas k
Amstelveen, The Netherlands32,824 contributions
Mar 2018 • Solo
Opposite the Teylersmuseum on the other side of "Spaarne"river are the double gables of this former brewery dating from 1606.The name Olyphant means Elephant in old Dutch and the animal is presented on a 17th century gable stone.The white drawbridge over Spaarne river brings the pedestrian or cyclist to a quarter called"Spaarnwouderbuurt".This historic area is called after the Spaarndammer Poort later called Amsterdammer Poort.
Written March 19, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK186,621 contributions
Jul 2019
De Olyphant is a building on the south bank of the River Spaarne. The building was originally a brewery, but is now a residential complex. It looks a little like a pair of gingerbread houses. I think the main notability of the building is facades which was deliberately built "on the run", that is, it lean slightly forward.
A lot of the reviews for this are actually for the bridge Gravestenenbrug, which is just opposite the building.
A lot of the reviews for this are actually for the bridge Gravestenenbrug, which is just opposite the building.
Written August 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aga W
Haarlem, The Netherlands115 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
The most magic and magnificent bridge in Haarlem. You can't miss it. The view from this one is just breathtaking! You can see from here tenements modeled on a sailing ship for example. Super impressive.
Written November 28, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marcus_NL1234
Venhuizen, The Netherlands215 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
It is a bridge, you can walk over it to the other side of the river :-) Ok the state is good, and nice to visit, mainly to get acros to the boats that take you for a tour.
Written October 31, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bas k
Amstelveen, The Netherlands32,824 contributions
Apr 2017 • Friends
The double gables in Dutch early 17th century architecture can be seen from Teylers Museum and give the area an historic charm.
Written April 15, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clogs
Poland3,033 contributions
Feb 2018 • Solo
Pretty enough, but badly lighted, more's the pity (had an evening walk). Good looking, although not as pretty as the Magere Brug in Amsterdam. Nice daytime photo opp.
Written February 21, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul S
Sion, Switzerland92 contributions
Nov 2017 • Family
Well, if you read "The Cow That Fell in the Canal" to your children, you can show them a fine example of the real thing here in Haarlem, near to the Teyler Museum and, just as a bonus, it opened for a yacht just as we were returning to town....
Written January 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David n
Manchester, UK4,769 contributions
Sep 2017 • Friends
Noticed this Bridge after visiting Teylers Museum. Reminded us of the Skinny Bridge in Amsterdam though charming in its own right.
Written September 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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