The Jan Olphert Vaillantlaan is a good example of what you get if the authorities liberalize the rules that apply to building and designing houses.
Houses here are individually designed and built, which is unlike new neighbourhoods are usually built in the Netherlands. Usually, the houses in a neighbourhood are built as one, large project, so that they all more or less look the same.

Free(er) architecture has become more fashionable since the 1990's. This started with the architect Carel Weeber, who introduced the term 'Wild Wonen' ('Wild Living') in 1997. The idea is that people get more choice in designing the place where they live, so that they can distinguish themselves from others. Traditionally, the Dutch live in rows of more or less identical houses, which Weeber called 'state architecture'.

The canal area in central Amsterdam is typically seen as how housing should be developed ideally: each house is built under private ownership, with its own choices as to materials, design and colours. The result is a row of gables which grew organically over the centuries and looks harmonious and attractive despite the individual differences of the houses.

In 2000, it was attempted to re-create this effect on the Java Island: as part of the redevelopment of this harbour island, 4 canals were created with canal houses alongside that were each designed differently. This was part of one large project, the houses were not built under private ownership. You can see this, as each gable design is replicated on the other side of the canal.

In a street like Jan Olphert Vaillantlaan, the liberalization has been taken a step further. Here, each house is built and designed by its first owner. There is more freedom to do whatever you want, but there are still rules for the (maximum) height of buildings, and they must be aligned in a straight line.

Free architecture like this can also be found in the close-by Floating Village on the other side of IJburglaan. Each floating house has its own design.

Address:
Jan Olphert Vaillantlaan, Amsterdam