Bolwoningen: Neighborhood of Spherical Homes
Hertogenbosch (“Den Bosch”), Netherlands is home to an unusual neighborhood known as Bolwoningen, which means ball houses. At first glance it looks like post alien invasion scene, but don’t be scared; these houses are occupied by humans only.
In 1968, the Government of the Netherlands decided to fund an experimental construction of low-cost housing. The architect Dris Kreikampa’s project “Bolwoningen” was chosen, but construction began in 1980. Bolwoningen consists of 50 sphere houses. The balls are made of cement, reinforced with fiberglass. They are mounted on the base in the form of a cylinder. Each sphere’s diameter is 18 feet and each has 11 round windows. The layout of these structures is quite unusual. In the center of the sphere there is a bathroom and a tiny bedroom, and a living room and kitchen, are located on the second floor-level. The house can be completely disassembled and transported to any other place (the weight of this building is only about 2755 lbs). In addition, this building can be placed not only on the ground, but also on water, on a stationary platform.
Locals didn’t quite appreciate the vision of the architect, but there are plenty of tourists, who would love to visit or even experience living in these futuristic houses.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Bolwoningen, Maaspoort, ’s-Hertogenbosch, North Brabant, Netherlands
- Access
- A cluster of 50 occupied homes. View only from public streets and respect residents’ privacy; do not enter gardens, paths or homes. The city’s heritage service provides a virtual tour; no general in-person tour is published.
- Admission
- No general admission. These are private homes, not a walk-in attraction. The city heritage site has a virtual tour; occasional Open Monumentendag access is event-specific and not a regular offer.
- Time needed
- No standard visitor duration is published because there is no regular public visit. If passing by, keep the exterior stop brief and remain on public streets.
- Best season
- No preferred visitor season is published. This is a residential neighborhood, not a staffed attraction.
- Opening hours
- No public opening hours. The homes are privately occupied; do not enter the properties. Interior access, when offered for a special heritage event, is date-specific and must be confirmed with the event organizer.
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-22
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If not for my family, I’d live there.
Are these for sale to someone’ is not a citizen yet? Exactly what I want at the age of 61!