The Hague affiliate of De Bijenkorf opened as early as 1926. Its building within the city center has been designed by architect Piet Kramer and contains several beautiful stained glass windows. I have always loved a touch of jazz age splendor… So, I guess, I am an enthusiastic visitor of this department store for more than 20 years now…

Upstairs
Piet Kramer designed his Bijenkorf building in the style of the Amsterdam school. The original exterior is still intact, a magnificent five-floor-high red brick facade with vertical strips of spherical colorless stained glass that seems to rest entirely on the fragile ground floor row of shop windows. The interior on the other hand has been completely redesigned to meet 21st century standards.

Or has it? If you ignore the escalators and look just beyond the elevators, you will find the original restored 1926 stairwell. Walking up the steps, you have a great view on the stained glass windows that are placed alongside the staircase. The windows have been designed by various famous Dutch glass artists, namely: Johannes Linse (first floor), Henri van der Stok (second floor), Pieter Hofman (third floor) Mien Visser-Düker (fourth floor) and Leo Visser (fifth floor). Personally, I especially like the bright colorful design from Mien Visser-Düker.

When will you climb this staircase to choose your own favorite stained glass window?