Boerderij Patricia
THE ABANDONED HOUSE IN THE NETHERLANDS
Explore Boerderij Patricia. The old farmhouse, situated in Stompetoren, a hamlet close to Alkmaar. The house burned down in 2013. Eventually, the house was demolished in 2020.
Stompetoren is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Alkmaar. The current name means “stubby tower” after the shape of the Dutch Reformed church tower.
The farmhouse was built in the early 1900s. It was a thriving place where a Dutch family lived and worked. The family farmed the land, raising animals and growing crops. However, as time passed, the younger generations moved to the cities, leaving the farmhouse empty.
Fire
The last, lone occupant of the Patricia farm, an anti-squat tenant, was saved by the fire department while he was sleeping during a fire. When firefighters got there, the building was already on fire. Even with the strong wind, the firefighters managed to contain the fire rapidly. Because of the heavy smoke, nearby residents were advised to keep their windows and doors shut. Sadly, only the ground floor remained intact after the incident. The farm was left uninhabitable, allowing nature to take over.
Walking up to the farmhouse, you can see its charm despite its worn-down condition. The roof has holes, and the windows are broken. The front door is hanging off its hinges. Inside, the wallpaper is peeling, and the floors creak with every step. It’s easy to imagine the daily life of the family who once lived there.
Abandoned places like this farmhouse tell a story of the past. They give us a glimpse into how people lived many years ago. It’s like stepping back in time. I visited Boerderij Patricia in 2017. For more abandoned houses, check this link. The house was demolished in 2020.
