Netherlands Bank

Built in 1897, the Netherlands Bank was designed in the Neo-Holland/Flemish Renaissance Revival style, with gables that are reminiscent of buildings in Holland and cast-iron gates and balustrades manufactured in the Netherlands.
This structure was actually the bank’s second building, replacing the first one which was converted into shops and later demolished. In 1914 the top storey of the bank burnt down, eventually to be restored in 1988.

Architect:
Wilhelm Johannes de Zwaan
Born in Amsterdam, Wilhelm Johannes de Zwaan came to South Africa in 1889. He designed two of the buildings surrounding Church Square (only the Netherlands Bank building remains), numerous houses in Waterkloof and contributed to Pretoria’s regional architecture of the early 1900s.

Sources:
FISHER, R.C. 1998. The Third Vernacular. In Architecture of the Transvaal. Edited by R.C. Fisher and S. le Roux, with E. Maré. Pretoria: the University of Pretoria. p.122-147.
MEIRING, H. 1977. Boukunsskatte van Suid-Afrika. Cape Town and Pretoria: Human & Rousseau).
More about De Zwaan
artefacts.co.za/architect (accessed 21 January 2014).
artefacts.co.za/building (accessed 22 January 2014).
artefacts.co.za/building (accessed 22 January 2014).
able.wiki.up.ac.za (accessed 22 January 2014).