Strikkershuis

Activity: Presentation
Age: All ages

From 1901 to 1958, the Strikkershuis served as the home of the stationmaster of De Bilt station (later Bilthoven) and his family. Due to redevelopment of the station area in Bilthoven, the house had to make way for a tunnel in 2012. The house was donated to the Railway Museum and, thanks to ProRail, rebuilt on the museum grounds.

First resident

The cottage was named ‘Strikkershuis’, after its first occupant, Heinrich Strikkers, who served as stationmaster at De Bilt station from 1898 to 1932. At that time, stationmasters were expected to live with their families as close as possible to the station where they worked. This enabled them to keep watch 24 hours a day and to be on the spot quickly in the event of any problems.

Exterior

The Strikkershuis is not open to the public but is available for commercial hire. However, you can view the distinctive building from the outside. The house has an overhanging gable roof, the ridge of which ran parallel to the railway line. A distinctive veranda has been built on one side, part of which has been enclosed with glass.