Montessori Kindergarten in the Netherlands by De Zwarte Hond

In the Hague district of Waalsdorp on the northern edge of the Dutch capital, a Montessori kindergarten designed by the studio De Zwarte Hond has emerged. Situated in the midst of a row of single-family homes, it occupies a triangular plot where two other schools previously stood. The new kindergarten blends in with the surrounding houses made of brick, both in height and external facade, yet it stands out due to the use of slightly different bricks (flat and elongated) and especially the decoratively designed northern facade. The large-format windows feature a lowered sill, and the anodized aluminum frames are finished in bronze color. The elongated building, covering an area of 2500 m², has a two-story “multipurpose street” running through its center, providing access to all classrooms, playrooms, workshops, dining hall, and sports hall. The unusual teaching approach is reflected in the spatial arrangement of all rooms in the building. The most important place is the central hallway, where everyone meets and the most activities take place. The kindergarten is divided into three age groups. The youngest students are located on the ground floor, while the older ones are on the upper level. The brightening of the rooms is taken care of by blue glazing on the railings, gray-purple stripes on the walls, and light tones of wooden paneling.