Verheul, Johannes Dirkz

(b Rotterdam, 14 Feb 1860; d Rotterdam, ?19 Oct 1948). Dutch architect. He was trained in his father’s business and attended evening classes at the Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten en Technische Wetenschappen in Rotterdam (1872–7). Then he went to the Polytechnische School in Delft, obtaining a diploma in 1882. His career immediately expanded once he was commissioned in 1883 to build Rotterdam Theatre (destr. 1940), which was in a Dutch Neo-Renaissance style, like many of the designs of his early period. He built the concert hall and auditorium De Kunstmin (1888–90) at St Jorisweg 76, Dordrecht, in the same style; it was rebuilt (1939–40) by Sybold van Ravesteyn. Verheul also designed the water-towers (1885; destr. 1925) at Schiedam in a more historicizing style. Later he felt more attracted to Jugendstil, specifically Nieuwe Kunst. One of his most important designs in this style was the building (1900–02; destr. 1974) in Utrecht for the insurance company ‘De Utrecht’. One of Verheul’s least characteristic buildings of this period is the Witte Huis (1899–1901) at Raadhuisstraat 6, Amsterdam, designed with his brother Cornelis Verheul for the Rotterdamsche Verzekering-Societeiten (Rotterdam Insurance Company). This fine surviving example of Jugendstil is distinguished by large glass surfaces in parabolic frames and white glazed brick. His style became more traditional from 1910.

Spoorlaan M 1576 en M1577, vanaf 1910 nr. 154 bovenwoning en nr. 156 kantoor van Levensverzekerings Mij. de Utrecht. Het pand werd gebouwd in 1898 door aannemer P.B. Clerx naar een ontwerp van architect J. Verheul Dzn.

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