Stair railings and handrails in Amsterdam

The steps you find in Amsterdam

The classic case is the stoep: the stone front steps of a canal house leading up from the pavement to the raised ground floor. These steps are often steep, with an old railing that wobbles or has long since gone. Then there are basement stairs leading down to a souterrain flat, usually narrow and squeezed between two walls.

Behind the house you often find a short flight from a raised ground floor down to the garden, common in the 1930s neighbourhoods of Zuid and West and in many streets in Oost. In new developments on IJburg, at the Zuidas or in Noord, there are outdoor stairs to raised entrances, communal gardens or a roof. If the stairs lead to a roof terrace railing, we design the handrail and balustrade together.

Material

Galvanised, powder coated steel

Types

Wall rail, posts or vertical bars

Colour

Any RAL colour or grachtengroen

Lead time

6 to 8 weeks

Installation

Our own fitters

Choosing a steel handrail

A handrail first of all has to feel right in the hand. We make our stair railings in steel, in our own workshops in Urk and Emmeloord, in three broad types:

• A wall-mounted handrail on brackets, ideal for basement stairs between two walls.
• A railing on posts with one or more intermediate rails, typical for open front steps.
• A railing with vertical bars where the side of the stairs needs to be fully closed off, matching our bar style balcony railings.

Round or square, crisp and modern or more traditional for an older building, every railing follows the actual angle and treads of your stairs. You always receive the production drawing so you can see exactly how it runs and where it is fixed.

Fixing into stone, brick or concrete

Old bluestone steps call for a different approach than a concrete stair in a new build. Posts can go into or onto the treads, brackets can go into the wall, and for garden stairs a post beside the steps on a base plate sometimes works better. We decide on site when we measure, based on the material and condition of the steps and masonry.

For listed buildings or properties in a protected cityscape, it is wise to check with the City of Amsterdam before changing anything on the street side. We do not advise on permits. Our article on working on canal houses covers the practical side.

Finish and colour

An outdoor handrail is touched every day and rained on all year. We galvanise the steel and then powder coat it in any RAL colour, so it lasts without repainting. Black and anthracite are the traditional choice, while grachtengroen (the canal green our coating partner offers as its own shade) works well alongside green doors and window frames. We can also match an existing gate or Juliet balcony on the same facade.

Replacing or repairing an old railing

Plenty of requests concern a railing that is already there: loose in the stone, rusted through at the base or half removed during a renovation. We can repair existing railings, including ones we did not make. To be honest, repair often costs more than a new handrail, because the old parts have to be removed, blasted and adapted first. Send us a few photos and we will tell you what makes sense.

Price and quotes

We do not publish starting prices. The cost depends on length and number of bends, the type of railing, the finish, the fixing method, access and whether we install it. Send us photos of the stairs, the number of steps and a rough length, and we will put together a free, no-obligation indicative quote. If you want us to install, we then come to measure and send a final quote with drawing. We aim to respond within one or two working days.

Lead time is 6 to 8 weeks, or 8 to 10 weeks from July to September. Delivery by our own drivers is free. Request a quote or call or WhatsApp 036 84 54 240. You can also browse the handrail range at Hekwerkwebshop.nl. We cover the whole city and surrounding towns, see our service area.

Frequently asked questions