Replacing a balcony railing on an Amsterdam canal house: what to check
Living in a canal house is one of the great Amsterdam experiences, until the balcony railing needs replacing. Old walls, uneven floors and a narrow street outside all play a part. Here is what to think about before you order.
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Start with a quick check at the municipality
A large share of the canal houses in Amsterdam are listed buildings or sit within a protected cityscape (beschermd stadsgezicht). That can affect what you are allowed to change on the outside. We do not give advice on permits and we will not guess at the rules. The sensible step is to ask the municipality (gemeente) what applies to your building before anything is designed.
Tell them if you are replacing like for like or changing the style, height or colour. Once you know where you stand, we design the railing around that and around what you want.
- Material
- Steel, galvanised + powder coated
- Height
- At least 100 cm
- Lead time
- 6-8 weeks
- Installation
- Own fitters, in Amsterdam daily
Measuring a building that is never square
Many canal houses lean slightly, floors slope and balconies have been altered over the centuries. Off-the-shelf railings rarely fit. Everything we make is made to measure, and you always receive a copy of the production drawing.
The process starts with an indicative quote based on rough measurements. Photos of the balcony, the current fixings and the street help a lot. If the indication works for you and you would like us to install, we come round to measure for a final quote with drawing. We only measure on site when we also do the installation. If you plan to fit the railing yourself, measure at several points and take photos with a tape measure in view.
What holds the old railing in place
Fixings are often the trickiest part of an old building. The previous railing may be set into stone, screwed onto a timber balcony or bolted to the facade with brackets that have long since rusted. What is left after removal decides how the new one is fixed:
- Base plates on the balcony floor, when the floor is strong enough.
- Side fixing to the edge of the balcony slab, which keeps the floor clear.
- Wall brackets against the facade, when the floor is not a good base.
If you have doubts about the balcony structure itself, get that checked first. On height we are firm: our balustrades are at least 100 cm high, and 120 cm where the drop is 13 metres or more. We do not make them lower, even on request.
Slim balusters suit an old facade
A narrow facade with tall sash windows usually looks best with a calm design and slim vertical balusters. Our baluster models A01 to A07 are a natural starting point. They are made from steel in our own workshops in Urk and Emmeloord, from cutting to welding.
Have a look at our made-to-measure balcony railings for the options. For a rear balcony overlooking the garden, a glass balustrade can work well too. You can also browse the full balcony railing range on Hekwerkwebshop.nl for reference.
Colour and finish
Our steel is hot-dip galvanised and then powder coated. Galvanising protects against rust, the powder coat gives the colour. Any RAL colour is possible, and our coating partner also offers canal green (grachtengroen) as a colour of its own. Black and anthracite are common in the centre as well. Our post on choosing a railing colour in Amsterdam goes into more detail.
Getting it up the stairs, or over the balcony
Canal house stairs are famously steep and narrow. A long railing section will not always make the turn. We plan for that at the drawing stage: sometimes the railing is made in parts that are joined on site, sometimes it goes up over the balcony or via the hoisting beam in the gable.
Loading and unloading on a canal street also takes planning. Our own drivers and fitters are in Amsterdam every day and know the city. A few things you can do yourself:
- Let the neighbours know about the installation day.
- Clear the stairs and hallway.
- In a shared building, check with the VvE (the homeowners’ association).
More on how a delivery day works in our article on delivering railings in the city centre.
Pricing, lead times and your quote
We do not publish fixed prices, because every canal house is different. The price depends on length, height, model, finish, fixing method, access and installation (yes or no). Transport is free, with no minimum order.
Quotes are free and without obligation, and we aim to reply within one to two working days. Standard lead time is 6 to 8 weeks from approval to installation, or 8 to 10 weeks from July to September. Request a quote and send your photos and rough sizes along.
Frequently asked questions
Can I replace the railing on my canal house without permission?
That depends on the building. Many canal houses are listed or in a protected cityscape, so check with the municipality first. We do not advise on permits.
Will a new railing fit up my narrow stairs?
We take that into account when drawing. If needed, the railing is made in sections or lifted over the balcony.
Can you repair my existing railing instead?
Repairs are possible, also on railings made by others. In practice a repair is often more expensive than a new made-to-measure railing.
Tell us what you have in mind
Send a few photos and rough measurements. You will have an indication within one or two working days, free of charge.