Best Of 94+ Alluring Traditional Dutch House Design Top Choices Of Architects

Dutch colonial house designs have been popular since the 1600s and 1700s when Dutch settlers moved to North America. Based on traditional Dutch architecture, Dutch colonial houses feature steep-pitched gabled roofs, dormers, and gambrel roofs. The gambrel or "barn-style" roof is the most instantly recognizable element of Dutch colonial homes. These unique house designs have an expanded second story, resulting in an "L" shaped facade. The traditional Dutch colonial house also features panels of clapboard siding, shutters, and symmetrical façades with a central entrance. The floor plan of a Dutch Colonial is typically a central hall with two rooms on each side.

Dutch Colonial House Designs offer an attractive and unique style that has been adapted and used in countless homes across America. From coastal regions to inland towns, you'll find Dutch Colonial-style houses all over the United States. If you're looking to build or purchase a home with significant historical character and style, Dutch Colonial is a great choice.

Originating in the mid-19th century, Dutch Victorian house designs try to emulate the architecture of the Dutch colonial era, but with a more grand and embellished style. A Victorian Dutch house features steep roof pitches, dormers, a round tower, and an ornate porch. Typically, these houses feature multiple shades of bold colors, intricate details, and lots of trim and ornamentation.

These designs require a large plot of land, and the exterior requires a significant amount of care and attention. Dutch Victorian house designs differ from other Victorian styles in that they feature more ornate Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, and Queen Anne details.

Farmhouse designs are closely related to Dutch Colonial designs, with similar L-shaped configurations. Dutch farmhouse designs feature a two-story layout with the lower part of the house typically consisting of basic vertical siding and the upper part featuring clapboard siding and wood detailing. These farmhouses are further accented by a wraparound porch, gable roof and dormers, often located on the gable ends.

A farmhouse typically features raised ceilings with exposed wooden beams, unlike other Dutch house designs which often feature coffered ceilings. Just like a Dutch colonial house, Dutch farmhouses usually have a central hall with two main rooms on either side.

Dutch Cape Cod house designs date back to the 1940s and 1950s, when many people moved to the thriving coastal towns of New England. These open-floor plan homes make the most of limited square footage by offering an inviting and bright interior. The traditional Dutch Cape Cod house features a low-pitched roof that extends to form a slight overhang, called a “cape.”

These homes also feature clapboard siding and symmetrical doors and windows on the front façade, contributing to a clean and attractive exterior. The central hallway of a Dutch Cape Cod house often includes a staircase and centralized fireplace, and the floor plan usually divides the main living space into two stories—the living room on the main floor, and the bedrooms located on the upper floor.

Tudor architecture is characterized by a very traditional and ornate style, and Dutch Tudor house designs encompass the same trend. Common features of this style of home plan include steeply pitched gabled roofs, stone or brick masonry with detailed trim, and projecting upper stories. Tudor homes also have details drawn from medieval English architecture, and often feature tall and narrow windows with leaded glass.

Traditional Dutch Tudor house designs typically feature a blend of vertical and horizontal siding, a large chimney, and one or more bay projections punctuating the front façade. Tudor houses also typically feature an ornamental gable, detailed window trims, and paneled doors.

Gambrel house plans, or Dutch gambrel house designs, originated from Dutch settlers in the mid-17th century in America. This type of house plan has a distinctive roof with a double slope on each side of the roof line, and each side of the roof typically has two different pitches. The bottom slope has a steeper angle, followed by a shallower second slope. It’s a multi-dimensional roof style that offers maximum attic space.

In addition to having a recognizable gambrel-style roof, Dutch gambrel houses feature large central chimneys, sometimes extending 2-3 stories, high gables, and symmetrical front doors and windows.

For those looking to achieve a rustic, inviting atmosphere in their Country home, Dutch Country house designs may be the perfect option. These house plans typically feature a large porch, steeply pitched gable roofs, and a symmetrical design. Dutch Country homes also usually feature a central hall and L-shaped floor plans, as well as bright, airy colors and exposed wooden beams.

The main characteristic of Dutch Country house designs are the large central porches, which may stretch the entire width of the house and may include a wraparound porch for maximum outdoor living space. These porches often feature decorative trim, detailed posts, and sturdy railings.

The Georgian architectural style became highly popular in the early 1700s. This style is characterized by a symmetrical, boxy layout, and a large central doorway with an ornate pediment above it. Dutch Georgian house designs bring an element of style, grace, and sophistication to any home. They feature steeply pitched roofs, large chimneys, and often even a mansard roof. Windows are typically rectangular, and the façade is punctuated by alternating bays projecting outward, creating the characteristic “tabby” pattern. The central entrance of a Dutch Georgian house is high and grand, often featuring columns or pilasters extending up a few stories.

These designs were popularized during the eighteenth century when Georgian-style colonials began to be built in the American colonies. As a result, Dutch Georgian house plans are some of the oldest American house designs.

A saltbox house is a style of architecture developed in New England in the early colonial period. Its name originates from its resemblance to a wooden lidded salt box. These homes have a distinctive asymmetrical roof profile, with the rear (longer) side having a sharp drop in elevation. The façade and the roofline are not symmetrical, and windows in a saltbox house are usually set in pairs, even if they are off-center.

Dutch Saltbox house designs typically feature steeply pitched rooflines, with the long façade of the roof having a dramatic “overhang”, making for a distinct and historical style of house. Inside the house, you'll find the traditional central hallway and two main rooms on either side.

Colonial Revival house designs were popular in the early 1900s, and Dutch Colonial Revival House Designs are a newer variation on this classic. These homes are usually asymmetrical, with a steeply pitched roof and one or two dormers. The windows are typically large, arranged in pairs or groups, offering an abundance of natural light.

The distinctive gambrel roof on a Dutch Colonial Revival house is often extended past the side walls to form a garage or shed area, resulting in an attractive “eyebrow” roof over the entrance to the house. Additionally, these house designs often feature a wrap-around porch, giving the exterior a beautiful and inviting character.

With roots in medieval Europe, Dutch Neo-Gothic house designs draw inspiration from the Gothic architecture of that era. These house designs often feature steeply pitched roofs, ornate doors and windows, intricate details, and an abundance of detailed trim. The roofline of these houses is often an asymmetrical individually shaped gable, covered in slate shingles. The main entrance may feature an imposing doorway surrounded by Gothic columns.

The interior of these Neo-Gothic houses is often a central hall with additional living space on either side. The Neo-Gothic interior style often blends chandeliers, tapestries, textiles, and dark stained furniture to create a sense of mystery and sophistication.