The Dutch Door, a staple of home design since the 17th century, holds a special place in architectural history. This unique door style has not only graced homes around the globe but also played a crucial role in the early American colonies, where it was almost a necessity.
History of the Dutch Door
Called the Dutch Door because it was common in the Netherlands in the 17th century it quickly spread to other parts of the world. It can be seen in many Dutch paintings of the time setting its invention squarely in the Netherlands. While the it was likely invented in Holland, its widespread use in America remains unparalleled.
The Dutch Door, sometimes called a stable door or half door, became particularly popular in the American colonies of New York (formerly New Amsterdam) and New Jersey, areas originally settled by the Dutch before English control. These regions still showcase a strong Dutch influence in their colonial architecture.
Before the invention of wire screening in the 1820s, there was no effective way to let fresh air into the kitchen while keeping critters out. During this time, America was largely rural, with most people living on farms.
Without barbed wire, animals roamed freely around homes. The Dutch Door provided a solution by allowing fresh air to circulate while keeping animals outside and children safely inside. It also enabled homeowners to receive deliveries and converse with visitors without granting full access to their homes.
In the smoke filled kitchens of the time where cooking was done in a fireplace the access to fresh air that this design provided was essential.
Anatomy & Design
A Dutch Door consists of two independently moving sections, one atop the other. It requires four hinges, unlike the typical three hinges found on most doors. The bottom section contains the doorknob and lock, while the top section includes a latch to connect the two parts.
When latched together, a it functions like a traditional door. Often, these doors feature a “perch” on the bottom section, resembling a window sill. Some include windows in the top section, while others do not.
Finding an original Dutch Door today is a rare delight. These doors were crafted before home building became standardized, meaning their sizes and materials are often unique to their region of origin. Each one thus tells its own individual story.
On the most basic version in vernacular architecture there are some very simple designs of wood planks nailed together with strap hinges. The high styles versions are truly a sight to behold.
Modern Relevance
Dutch Doors are a period-appropriate addition to older homes and a whimsical addition to newer homes. They evoke a bygone era when neighbors chatted from open doors and pies cooled on top perches. Like the sleeping porch, the Dutch Door is a design trend poised for a revival in modern homes.
Unique and Famous Examples
They have also found unique applications and have been featured in various famous contexts. For example, they were used in the iconic TV series “Mr. Ed,” where the talking horse would poke his head through the Dutch Door of his stable.
What are some other classics featuring a Dutch door? Movies such as “Mary Poppins” and “The Sound of Music,” featured the doors prominently in scenes of the movies.
Even Oprah Winfrey’s home features a pair of these doors, adding a touch of historic charm and practicality. Dutch doors are also popular in celebrity home renovations, often featured in design magazines and television shows for their unique blend of function and nostalgia .
What about you? Would a Dutch Door fit on your house? Do you already have one on your historic home that comes with a great story? Let me know in the comments below.
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I love old houses, working with my hands, and teaching others the excitment of doing it yourself! Everything is teachable if you only give it the chance.
We make Custom solid wood Dutch Doors in California and have a retractable
screen that comes down from the top jamb to the shelf below. This item is very popular with our customers who don’t like mosquitoes and other flying creatures.
In our 8 years of selling this product – not one complaint or replacement
Would you like a picture of this screen to share? OCDutchDoors.com
I am considering making one of our doors into a Dutch Door. We have a 1910 house two stories. In the master bedroom, on the second floor, we have an exterior door that leads over the roof of our porch. The porch is not sound enough to handle weight(it will be awhile if we ever get around to it to behonest so many other projects). If I made that into a dutch door to allow air flow in the fall and spring would I be ruining my door/house? I know it is a personal prefrence in the end but the integrety of the house is always on my mind when we choose to do something.
Yes, I have seen many Dutch Doors. They were especially built in the small towns in Holland, so people could say a quick “hello” to each other and get the latest news without having to take off their wooden shoes, if they were invited in.
We had a rattlesnake coming in our from door last summer because we always leave the door open during beautiful days, so we cut our solid wood door in half, added extra hinges and a decorative piece on the lower door on the outside. Done deal. No more snakes are coming in our house.
oh my goodness, Crystal! That’s crazy! I work for The Craftsman Blog but I am located in Arizona, so I totally understand the rattle snake life. That’s so horrifying!
-Alyssa at The Craftsman Blog
They were also commonly found in the Dutch cultural areas of New York and New Jersey before the American Revolution.
We lived in a small house in Southern California and the door off the kitchen had a Dutch door. Which was especially odd because it was the door to the bathroom. We still fondly refer to our house with the Mr. Ed bathroom.
I’ve been searching the Internet for the most insulated Dutch door that can handle severe weather. I live on a remote island in the upper Peninsula of Michigan with bitterly cold winters. Where can I find a entry Dutch door built for my location?
Please & Thank you
My Dutch door needs repair and refinish. What kind of pro in Philadelphia area should I look for. The glass shop won’t do it. Not sure what tradesman to look for.
Check out the directory on my site to find a window restored near you. They almost all handle doors too.
BTW, I’m not sure how old it is, but I’m thinking it’s solid oak – very heavy.
Lori
I found an old Dutch Door with 8 panes of glass on the top half, in an old barn that the owners were going to burn. I am stripping the paint and I want to take the glass out. I watched a video on how to repair a glass pane in a door where he removed the trim around the glass. But my door seems to be made up of a solid trellis(?) I’m afraid I will harm the wood if I start digging around with an exacto knife. Any advise you could give me would be appreciated. I wish I could put a photo of it on here. Thanks, Lori
Lori, the glass is likely held in place with those same wood glazing strips unless it was assembled around the glass (very rare). I’d gently try to pry one off and see how it goes.
A friend has an old dutch door, the house seems about 1930 vintage. The bottom section has a narrow crack between the vertical and horizontal pieces (stile and rail?), which may be preventing the lock bar from the top section from seating correctly. Also the quadrant seems sticky.
The crack doesn’t seem to go more than 1/2 way down the width of the rail. Would epoxy filling of the crack be a reasonable repair?
Are brass quadrants waxed or oiled as maintenance or just washed off?
Phil, for a crack that is causing the door or lock to not seat properly a better repair would be to squeeze some wood glue like Titebond III (which is a waterproof glue, good for outdoors) into the crack and clamp the rail and stile back into place until the glue dries. Filling with epoxy will fix the problem cosmetically but the door will likely continue to split in time.
Have you ever seen a glass dutch door, like you would use on a patio? Does such a thing exist or would it be custom built?
Thanks, enjoyed the web site.
bruce
Never seen a glass one before, but if it can be dreamed I’m sure it can be built.
You’ll need to consider the functionality and suitability of the styles of exterior Dutch door hardware you would like to buy.
Scott I appreciate you enthusiasm and the quality artisanship with in the services that you company provides. Bringing something old and in need of repair back to life is trully a wonderful thing. I hope to be part fo your team.
Wayne Cyr