Kurhaus of Scheveningen
52.1132794.281814Koordinaten: 52 ° 6 ' 47.8 "N, 4 ° 16' 54.5 " E
The Kurhaus Scheveningen is a Grade II listed building in the seaside resort of Scheveningen, a suburb of The Hague in the Netherlands. This building was used from 1885 to 1969 as a central spa and is operated as a climbing mountain hotel since 1979.
History
The history of the Kurhaus Scheveningen goes back to shipowners Jacob Pronk ( 1762-1838 ). Pronk began in 1818 with the construction of a bathhouse on the beach of Scheveningen. Bathers so was given the opportunity to bathe in tubs that were filled with sea water. Especially rheumatic ailments should learn in this way relief. Pronk concept was a success. In 1820 he left the wooden bathhouse replaced by a stone building.
The fact that Pronk had discovered a lucrative source of income, the government in The Hague did not go unnoticed. To fill the public coffers, they decided on a takeover of the business. 1828 was the seaside resort into the hands of the city of The Hague. The building's design was inspired by the Kurhaus Aachen.
In 1854 the municipal bath house was extended by two side wings and torn down 30 years later.
Architecture
Opened on 11 Jui 1885 Kurhaus was in 1884 by the German architects and builders John Frederick Henkenhaf ( 1848-1908 ), his brother Jacob Henkenhaf ( 1850-1927 ) and Friedrich Ebert ( 1850-1914 ) built.
The building has the shape of an open three-wing building, which is similar to the outline of a baroque castle, and is aligned parallel to the coastline. At the lake side the wings include a terrace. The central wing is crowned by a dome, which quickly became the landmark of the resort. The exterior is designed in yellow red facing and hewn stone, and leans in looks to the customary brick facades. The main lounge of the building is the Kursaal, took place in the musical and festive events in a representative frame.
Use history of the Kurhaus
On September 1, 1886, the building burned down. The fire should thus be created that alcohol stove had fallen while a nanny porridge cooked. The spa house was rebuilt and reopened after just nine months on 19 June 1887. The construction costs amounted to 600,000 guilders. The ceiling painting the Kursaal ( Dutch: Kurzaal ) were carried out by the Belgian painter's workshop Van Hoek. A large number of famous people lodged in the period following the Kurhaus. In the Golden guest book, find artists and composers such as Beethoven, Brahms, and van Gogh, crowned heads as Empress Elisabeth ( Sissi), the Austro -Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph I. and the German Emperor Wilhelm II and politicians such as Roosevelt, Churchill and Brandt.
In the 20th century, the spa culture was subjected to drastic changes in Scheveningen. Royal guests were from a middle-class audience came. The wanted the leadership of the Kurhaus, which was in 1903 in the hands of " Explotatie Maatschappij Scheveningen " (EMS ), into account. Demand was high quality entertainment, such as concerts, dinner dances and cabaret shows.
1918 celebrated the spa Scheveningen its 100th anniversary. The first pier, which led into the sea from the center of the Spa House, was built in 1901 and destroyed in the Second World War. The second pier was opened in 1961. As one of the largest moles Europe, it consists of four islands that carry restaurants, numerous shops, a casino and a 45 m high observation tower.
On August 8, 1964, the Rolling Stones gave the Kurhaus a concert that went down in a big commotion and had to be canceled. Today On the walls next to the bar the Kursaal at photos and signs with the names of world-famous artists that had occurred in the Kurhaus.
Towards the end of the 1960s operated the management of the Kurhaus with significant losses, so the decision had to be made to close the Kurhaus. EMS sold the Kurhaus in 1973 to a consortium that wanted to demolish the Kurhaus. The sharp protest of the government in The Hague, it was thanks to them that the demolition plans could be prevented. The most important reason for the salvation of the Kurhaus was the guest register, which had become the subject of public interest. The Golden Book was an object for studies of graphologist and historians who recognized in the register a unique style wealth of information.
In 1969 the spa was closed. In the years 1972-1975 it was completely renovated in 1975 and got the status of a listed building ( Rijksmonument ) of the Netherlands. The reopening of the Kurhaus was made in 1979 by the Princess Beatrix. The house is still owned by the Steigenberger Hotels AG.