Tekenpunt / Projects / Wall opening Haarlem
Completed project · Wall opening PLAN N°PRJ-HRL-DB-2025 / SCALE 1:50 / 2025

Wall opening in Haarlem

A 1930s terraced house in Haarlem-Oost had the interior wall between the hallway and living room removed. We produced the structural calculation for the HEA beam. No permit required; completed by the contractor in 1 day.

TypeWall opening
LocationHaarlem
Surface areaOpen living space
Lead timePermit-free
Year2025
ResultOpen hallway-living room
§01 From sketch to completion

The complete process

01 · Challenge

Narrow hallway cutting off the living room

The 1930s terraced house in Haarlem-Oost had a typical layout: a narrow hallway of approximately 1.5 m wide, fully closed off from the living room by a load-bearing internal wall. The living room therefore felt small and dark. The owners wanted to merge the hallway and living room into one space. The internal wall turned out to be structural: it carried the upper floor above the hallway and was included in the load transfer of the roof.

02 · Our approach

HEA 160 calculated in a 1930s structure

We mapped the load paths of the roof and upper floor. An HEA 160 beam spanning the full width of the hallway takes over the vertical forces from the removed wall. The bearings in the load-bearing external walls were calculated for the bending moment and support reactions in accordance with NEN 6770. Because the intervention is entirely internal, no permit was required. We delivered the structural calculation as a PDF for the contractor and the housing association.

03 · Result

Spacious hall-living room, light from front to back

The property now has an open hallway-living room with an unobstructed view from the front door through to the garden doors at the rear. The HEA beam has been integrated into the ceiling and fully concealed. The contractor carried out the work in 1 day. No permit required. The housing association gave its approval after receiving the structural calculation.

Key project details

Drafting
Existing and new situation
Permit
Permit-free (internal)
Structure
HEA 160 steel beam
Standard
NEN 6770 / Eurocode
Lead time
Drawing + calculation 4 working days

What we delivered

  • Existing and new situation drawings at scale 1:50
  • Structural calculation for HEA 160 beam in accordance with NEN 6770
  • Bearing detail in load-bearing exterior walls
  • Section with ceiling finish and beam casing
  • Permit-exempt confirmation on drawing
  • Execution-ready package for contractor and housing association
§03 Making a wall opening yourself?

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Last updated: June 2026 Content reviewed by the Tekenpunt team · in-house architect & KIWA-certified structural engineer