Op Vlucht (architecture)
Op Vlucht is a structural feature of many old houses in the Netherlands .
This type of construction, with its gable walls sloping forward, was for a long time regulated by municipal regulations. It was determined how far the gable walls could be inclined and that both gables had to be designed in this way in corner houses. It is no longer possible to precisely prove why it was built in this way. Probable reasons given are that the facade was protected from rainwater, that goods could be brought up to the upper floors to be easier, or simply for aesthetic reasons, as these houses looked more stately.
Up until the end of the 18th century, building Op Vlucht was nothing out of the ordinary. It is assumed that with the dissolution of the guilds by the occupying power of France at the beginning of the 19th century, a lot of architectural knowledge was lost and centuries-old building regulations disappeared.
The reason for this in other Hanseatic cities was simply an increase in the usable area, since building land within the city walls was very limited and therefore expensive. Since there was no reinforced concrete at that time, you couldn't build higher. In order to still be able to accommodate more in the houses, the building was wider at the top. That was the reason for this construction u. a. in the Hanseatic city of Minden. This type of construction does not significantly affect the stability, as the center of gravity remains within the foundation walls when viewed from above.
It is therefore likely that the same thing happened in Amsterdam. Originally it was not about building regulations, but about resourceful house builders or merchants. Another aspect is the tax, or the charges related to the floor area of a house. The homogenization of the cityscape probably brought about this regulation.