Balustrades in Amsterdam

Where you need a balustrade

A balustrade is any guard that stops people falling from a height. Inside, that might be the edge of a mezzanine in a converted warehouse or the open side of a stairwell. Outside, think of gallery walkways on post-war blocks, roof terraces and the entrances of office buildings around the Zuidas.

This page covers balustrades in general. If your project is specifically a balcony, our page on balcony railings in Amsterdam goes into more detail. If you would rather keep the view open, have a look at glass balustrades.

Every balustrade we supply is made to measure in steel, at our two workshops in Urk and one in Emmeloord. The only steps we outsource are galvanising and powder coating. You always receive the production drawing, so you can check exactly what will be made before anything is cut.

Material

Steel, galvanised and/or powder coated

Height

Minimum 100 cm

Lead time

6 to 8 weeks (summer 8 to 10)

Installation

Our own fitters, in Amsterdam daily

Drawing

Production drawing always included

Choosing an infill: bars, flat strips or louvres

The infill sets the character of a balustrade. We work with a range of standard designs that are then built to your dimensions:

• A01 to A07: vertical bar designs. Calm, classic and easy to combine with both old brick façades and new build.
• F models: alternative layouts of rails and bars for a little more character.
• S01: flat strip railing, clean and contemporary.
• S02: louvres, which give more privacy where neighbours are close by.

Not sure which suits your home? Send us a photo. An indoor balustrade around a void calls for a different approach from an exposed walkway in the wind, and we are happy to say what we would choose and why.

Height: our minimum

We build balustrades at least 100 cm high. Where the drop is 13 metres or more, the minimum becomes 120 cm. We do not go lower, even on request, because a balustrade exists first and foremost to keep people safe.

We cannot advise on permits or planning rules. Amsterdam has many listed buildings and a large protected cityscape area in the centre, so it is sensible to check with the City of Amsterdam (gemeente) before you order. If you live in an apartment, your VvE (the homeowners’ association) may also need to approve changes to the exterior.

Fixing methods

How a balustrade is fixed matters as much as how it looks. Depending on the structure, we use:

• Base plates on top of the floor or a concrete upstand, common on roof terraces and walkways;
• Side fixing to the face of the slab edge, which keeps the full width of a narrow walkway free;
• Fixing between walls, where the balustrade sits in an opening and is anchored left and right;
• Wall brackets for extra support or for fixing entirely to the façade when the floor will not take anchors.

Older Amsterdam buildings can hide surprises under the surface. That is one reason we always survey on site when we install: we see the substrate ourselves and design the fixings around it.

Finish and colour

Steel for outdoor use is hot-dip galvanised against rust and then powder coated for colour and a smooth finish. Indoors, powder coating alone is usually enough. You can choose any RAL colour. Anthracite and black are popular on new developments, while in the old centre many people choose grachtengroen (canal green), a colour our coater mixes in-house that matches the green doors and window frames along the canals.

What working in Amsterdam actually involves

We deliver with our own drivers and install with our own fitters, never through a parcel courier. In a city with narrow streets, cycle lanes and tight loading rules, that makes a real difference. Our team knows a balustrade for a canal-side flat may need to go up a steep staircase or be passed over a balcony, so we plan for that when building it, for example by making a long run in sections that are joined on site.

On newer islands such as IJburg and Zeeburgereiland access is usually easier, but wind off the water is a factor in choosing the design and the fixings. Prefer to install yourself? Plenty of customers do. We then simply deliver, free of charge and without minimum order, with our own drivers.

Lead time is normally 6 to 8 weeks from approval to installation, rising to 8 to 10 weeks from July to September.

Pricing and how to get a quotation

We do not publish prices because no two balustrades are the same. The cost depends on length and height, the design and amount of steel, the finish, the fixing method and number of corners, how easy the site is to reach, and whether we install or only deliver.

Quotations are free and without obligation. Send rough measurements and a few photos and we will reply with an indicative quote, usually within one or two working days. If that works for you and you would like us to install, we come to measure up and send a final quotation with drawing. You can request your quotation here or first browse the balustrade range at Hekwerkwebshop.nl, our parent company since early 2013. We also work across the wider region, including Amstelveen and the rest of our service area.

Frequently asked questions