Unconventional and playful – this is how Dutch architect Erick van Egeraat, head of the team responsible for the design of the Royal Netherlands Embassy building on Kawalerii Street in Warsaw, described his design brief. Less obvious seems his declaration of inspiration and references to the Baroque architecture of Tylman van Gameren, also a Dutchman who built several palaces and churches in Poland in the 17th century (Białystok, Nieborów, Warsaw). These were supposed to be the simplicity and diversity of the building materials used (wood, metal, glass, concrete, marble). The project proved to be a considerable success; the building won, among others, the “Life in Architecture” award (Architektura-Murator), the title of best public building in Warsaw (2004-2005), and was included in the prestigious “Poland: Icons of Architecture” list of the 20 best buildings built after 1989. A particularly distinctive element of the Dutch embassy is its fence. Instead of the high brick wall often found in such structures, van Egeraat designed a tall, openwork fence made of patinated bronze, formed by stylized plant stems and leaves. The complex was built in 2002-2003, and the Polish studio Grupa5 Architekci collaborated on the design with the Dutch architect. Address: Kawalerii Street 10, Warsaw.