The perfect place to escape the crowds

in a sense, De Zwarte Hond was born on Schiermonnikoog. Founder Jurjen van der Meer grew up there, as the son of the local carpenter-contractor, and left his mark as an architect. One of De Zwarte Hond's early designs, Dijkstra House from the mid-1980s, put the agency on the map. in recent years, a number of new designs on the Wadden island have also impressed, such as the Holiday home between the dunes and the beach.

The agency has been working on an oeuvre of holiday homes on the Wadden islands for years. Existing traditions are integrated in this series, from the typical wooden summer house with verandas and thatched roofs, to the later stone bungalows with faint roofs and large glass surfaces. These are homes that reflect the holiday feeling: optimistic, light and in full contact with nature. They are intimate places meant to spend time with your loved ones.

The latest addition to the series is House on Vuurtorenpad.This holiday home is set on the edge of Schiermonnikoog island’s stunning dune landscape, just a short stroll from the beach. The house is distinguished by a white brick facade and thatched roof with four copper dormers. The open plan ground floor maximises the living spaces and functions as a connecting element between the more enclosed functions on the first floor and the basement. With five generous bedrooms and three bathrooms, the house comfortably accommodates a large group of guests. Abundant daylight enters the house thanks to the high windows and large voids. The striking brick facade with a custom bond, copper-coloured anodised aluminium frames and carefully detailed timber elements – which seamlessly connect to the frames – show a considered use of materials. The terrace and garden echo the proportions and architecture of the house right down to the finest detail.