JT and John had the privilege of visiting Amsterdam to meet again with friends of many years, Cees and Elise Wessels. Elise has a passion for Japanese wood prints and has one of the finest collections in Europe. To house these Elise has created a museum/gallery in a canal house adjoining the family canal house home in the centre of Amsterdam.
ELISE
The two canal houses: the white one on the left houses the museum and has a 2 bedroom apartment above, where we stayed. The brown house on the right is the beautiful home that Elise has lovingly restored. The main house dates back from 1760's and has been restored to be a breathtaking combination of 18th century and modern.
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At the back of the two canal houses are two restored carriage houses and these are separated from the main houses by a stunning Japanese styled garden. Cees and Elise's son Wessel and his family live in the carriage houses, which have been converted to one internally. Above are the two main houses viewed across the garden from the carriage houses.
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The Garden
Elise and JT in front of the carriage house.
JT, Wessel, Elise and Cees on the main canal house steps.
John and Cees enjoy some time on the Amsterdam canals. Friends since working together at Phonogram Records in Wellington in the early 1970's, along with Dale Wrightson, who looked after their advertising. John and Cees were transferred to Europe in 1974 and Cees went on to be MD of RCA Holland and then started his own Roadrunner Records. Cees sold 75% of Roadrunner to Warners but still heads the company working out of Amsterdam and New York. Roadrunner has multi platinum act Nickelback and heavy metal kings Slipknot. Cees has many other successful business's including Internet companies and Sandays, a huge sandwich making enterprise; he also owns Dutch Record Company, CNR. John went on to head Motown in the UK before starting up his own record company in New Zealand with the Virgin label. John then started up CBS in New Zealand before heading CBS in Australia. These were before John's Radio and TV careers and music still remains his number one.
The Wessel family canal boat moored outside the canal house and being prepared for a day out by eldest son Wessel.
The living area in the apartment above the museum house. This is where JT and John stayed and enjoyed whilst in Amsterdam. Gillian and Dale Wrightson joined us there for several days and also enjoyed the flat's stunning canal views.
The house Elise restored is just so beautiful and this formal reception room dates back to the 1760's and even has the original clock on the wall in full working and chiming order.
The wall silk was found behind another later covering that Elise didn't like. When they stripped it off, behind was this very classy French originated silk covering.
Below is the lead light ceiling over an atrium created in the houses centre in times past to allow light to filter in.
.JPG)
This wonderful lead light window is in the museum house below the stairway leading to the apartment above.
At the front of the main house is a library which has a book room and a reading room facing directly to the canal.
At the internal end of the library is the most exotic clear lead light window.
Facing the garden and entered from the kitchen, is a large dining and day room that joins a sundeck. This room is comfortable as well as beautiful and features a mix of Victorian and modern furniture. The room is set off by lovely art and Elise's favourite Eames chair.
The house has another living area on the 2nd floor and facing the canal. The feature here is a high quality and large rug with muted tones that compliment two huge and comfortable sofas that have been with The Wessels family for over 15 years.
.JPG)
In the Museum house Elise has created a traditional Tatami room and the effect of moving from the 18th Century rooms to this is an enormous and effective contrast.
The display area of the Museum has many wonderful Japanese artifacts.
Below is a display of just a few of Elise's Japanese wood prints from her over 1000 piece collection
Just off a Museum room is another mid house atrium; this one with a Japanese garden.
This red coated bronze is another example of the wonderful art in the two canal houses.
Elise also has some fine examples of Chinese art, this one from the cultural revolution period.
A lamp from a leading Japanese designer.
This glass topped table is from the same Japanese designer as the lamp and is housed in the same room as the red bronze and the Chinese painting.
The Museum portion of the two canal houses has it's own curator and is open to viewing by appointment.
ELISE
The two canal houses: the white one on the left houses the museum and has a 2 bedroom apartment above, where we stayed. The brown house on the right is the beautiful home that Elise has lovingly restored. The main house dates back from 1760's and has been restored to be a breathtaking combination of 18th century and modern. .JPG)
At the back of the two canal houses are two restored carriage houses and these are separated from the main houses by a stunning Japanese styled garden. Cees and Elise's son Wessel and his family live in the carriage houses, which have been converted to one internally. Above are the two main houses viewed across the garden from the carriage houses. .JPG)
The Garden
Elise and JT in front of the carriage house.
JT, Wessel, Elise and Cees on the main canal house steps.
John and Cees enjoy some time on the Amsterdam canals. Friends since working together at Phonogram Records in Wellington in the early 1970's, along with Dale Wrightson, who looked after their advertising. John and Cees were transferred to Europe in 1974 and Cees went on to be MD of RCA Holland and then started his own Roadrunner Records. Cees sold 75% of Roadrunner to Warners but still heads the company working out of Amsterdam and New York. Roadrunner has multi platinum act Nickelback and heavy metal kings Slipknot. Cees has many other successful business's including Internet companies and Sandays, a huge sandwich making enterprise; he also owns Dutch Record Company, CNR. John went on to head Motown in the UK before starting up his own record company in New Zealand with the Virgin label. John then started up CBS in New Zealand before heading CBS in Australia. These were before John's Radio and TV careers and music still remains his number one. 
The Wessel family canal boat moored outside the canal house and being prepared for a day out by eldest son Wessel.
The living area in the apartment above the museum house. This is where JT and John stayed and enjoyed whilst in Amsterdam. Gillian and Dale Wrightson joined us there for several days and also enjoyed the flat's stunning canal views.
The house Elise restored is just so beautiful and this formal reception room dates back to the 1760's and even has the original clock on the wall in full working and chiming order. 
The wall silk was found behind another later covering that Elise didn't like. When they stripped it off, behind was this very classy French originated silk covering.
Below is the lead light ceiling over an atrium created in the houses centre in times past to allow light to filter in.
.JPG)
This wonderful lead light window is in the museum house below the stairway leading to the apartment above.
At the front of the main house is a library which has a book room and a reading room facing directly to the canal.
At the internal end of the library is the most exotic clear lead light window.
Facing the garden and entered from the kitchen, is a large dining and day room that joins a sundeck. This room is comfortable as well as beautiful and features a mix of Victorian and modern furniture. The room is set off by lovely art and Elise's favourite Eames chair.
The house has another living area on the 2nd floor and facing the canal. The feature here is a high quality and large rug with muted tones that compliment two huge and comfortable sofas that have been with The Wessels family for over 15 years..JPG)
In the Museum house Elise has created a traditional Tatami room and the effect of moving from the 18th Century rooms to this is an enormous and effective contrast.
The display area of the Museum has many wonderful Japanese artifacts. 
Below is a display of just a few of Elise's Japanese wood prints from her over 1000 piece collection
Just off a Museum room is another mid house atrium; this one with a Japanese garden.
This red coated bronze is another example of the wonderful art in the two canal houses. 
Elise also has some fine examples of Chinese art, this one from the cultural revolution period.
A lamp from a leading Japanese designer. This glass topped table is from the same Japanese designer as the lamp and is housed in the same room as the red bronze and the Chinese painting.
The Museum portion of the two canal houses has it's own curator and is open to viewing by appointment. 