French balconies in Amsterdam

What a French balcony is (and is not)

You cannot step out onto a French balcony. It is a guard fixed across a window or door so that you can throw it wide open safely. In Dutch it is called a Frans balkon, and in Amsterdam it is everywhere: on the rear of canal houses, in 1930s homes in Zuid where a bedroom window has been enlarged into a door, and in new developments where it is part of the original design.

For upstairs flats in the Pijp or Oud-West without any outdoor space, a Juliet balcony is often the most practical way to bring some air and light in. Our article on French balconies for upstairs flats looks at that situation in more detail.

Versions

Steel or steel with glass

Position

Inside the reveal or across the face

Height

Minimum 100 cm

Lead time

6 to 8 weeks (summer 8 to 10)

Steel or steel with glass

There are two main versions:

• Steel, with bars, flat strips or another infill pattern from our standard designs. It suits almost any façade and can echo existing ironwork on the street.
• Steel with glass, a steel frame holding a glass panel, ideal when the window starts low and you want an unbroken view.

Every frame is galvanised and powder coated. Many people match the colour of their window frames. In the old centre, grachtengroen (canal green, a colour our coater mixes in-house) is a natural choice, while black and anthracite go well with modern frames.

Inside the reveal or across the face

The key decision is where the railing sits.

Inside the reveal

The railing fits within the opening, between the brick sides. From the street it sits neatly in the façade, which works nicely on older houses with deep window reveals. You need enough depth between frame and outer wall, and the window must not swing into the railing.

Across the face

The railing is mounted on the outside wall, slightly wider than the opening, and fixed into the brickwork either side. This is usually the answer when windows open outwards, as many Amsterdam windows do. We set it far enough from the wall for the casements to move freely behind it.

When we measure up, we check how the windows open, what the wall will take and where the fixing holes go. Those positions are marked on the production drawing you receive.

Height, permits and your VvE

We make French balconies at least 100 cm high, or 120 cm where the drop is 13 metres or more, even if the window has a low sill. A Juliet balcony changes how a façade looks, so for listed buildings or homes in the protected historic centre it is sensible to check with the City of Amsterdam first. We do not advise on permits. In an apartment block, your VvE (homeowners’ association) will usually want a say too.

Fitting on an Amsterdam façade

A French balcony is light enough to carry up in one piece, but it is mounted from outside or through the open window. On a narrow pavement in the Jordaan or along a canal there is not much room to work, and a ladder or access platform may be needed. Our fitters are in the city every day and know these spots well.

Several windows stacked above each other or side by side are drawn together so they line up exactly. Prefer to fit it yourself? Our own drivers deliver free of charge, and the drawing with hole positions comes with it.

Price and quotation

Price depends on width and height, steel or steel with glass, the infill, the finish, the fixing position and how easy the façade is to reach. A ground floor window is a different job from a fourth floor window above a canal.

Quotations are free and without obligation. Send the frame size, one photo from inside and one from outside, and tell us how the window opens. You will get an indicative quote first, usually within one or two working days. If we install, we measure up for a final quotation with drawing. Lead time is 6 to 8 weeks, or 8 to 10 weeks from July to September.

Browse the options in the French balcony range at Hekwerkwebshop.nl, or request a quote for your Juliet balcony. We also install in nearby towns such as Haarlem and across our service area.

Frequently asked questions