About 70 centimeters wide and about 10 meters long; these are the dimensions of one of the narrowest buildings in the world. And this building is in our province. It is Prinsengracht 2, in Meppel.
Rick Jakobs is the city guide of Meppel and walks towards the point where three streets meet; The Kromme Elleboog, the Marktstraat and the Prinsengracht. “This is it,” says Jakobs, pointing to the building.
When you walk past it, you do not immediately realize that it is a stand-alone building. Also because the greengrocer that is attached to the building has put advertising on the windows. “Sin”, says the city guide.
The site of one of the narrowest buildings in the world has a lot of history. The adjacent Prinsenplein has always had an important trading function for Meppel. For example, from 1950 to 1970 there were various greengrocers, grocers and bakers around Prinsenplein.
The building at Prinsengracht 2 used to be a butcher’s shop. Around 2007 the building had to give way so that cars, cyclists and pedestrians could better reach the center. “They have turned a 9 meter wide building into a 70 cm wide building,” says Jakobs.
The building has therefore not been completely removed and that is for two reasons, according to Jakobs. “The building looks very beautiful architecturally, so the old elements are still clearly visible. The old window frames, the stained glass and even the old bedroom window at the back are still visible.”
But the building also has another function. “The buildings here in Meppel are on peat soil. That is bad ground where buildings easily sink. And now information has come to my disposal that probably shows that the building is an anchor for the rest of the buildings on the Prinsengracht.”
The city guide cannot say with 100 percent certainty. And so it is time to inquire with the municipality of Meppel.
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