The building

The Embassy of the Netherlands is located in the northern part of a unique historical building in the Centre of Old Riga, the Jacob's Barracks. Below you can read about this monument of architecture.

The building in Torna Street 4 is unique as the last of the 18-19th century barracks, located around Old Riga, that has survived till the present.

The Great Northern War between Sweden’s Charles XII and Russia’s Peter the Great was over and Riga now fell under the jurisdiction of the Russian Tsar. The prosperity of the city and its strategic location had made it a prize to be fought for. The tradesmen, guilds and city fathers had long been aware of this and had created defense ramparts in the style of an Italian System. The war had left the city fortifications and barracks severely damaged.

It was April 2nd, 1739, when the Large Guild Aldermen suggested to construct a military barracks that would house one thousand men. Its location would strategically be placed between Jacob’s Gate (along Jacob’s Street) and the Powder Tower. Permission was given by the Petersburg Fortification Office on June 26, 1739, for the construction of a wooden barracks at this location. Historical literature shows that “conditions stated that it could not be under one roof longer than 90 fathoms (approx. 180 m), but that it had to be four separate buildings.” By October of 1740 the four wooden barracks were completed. Historical documentation leaves us short at this time, but by 1772, the wooden structures had begun to be replaced by what are now the stone structures of the present day Jacob’s Barracks.

Jacob’s Barracks had to be completed by 1785. In the following year the three buildings appeared in the plan of Riga Fortress.

Over the course of the last two centuries Jacob’s Barracks has had many renovations. From historical records it appears that during the last hundred years more than fifteen renovations had been executed. The result of so many renovations is that the building lost almost all of its original appearance, including the elegant features of the façade. The reconstruction of Jacob’s Barracks to its original appearance was particularly important as it is the only remaining barracks of the 18th and 19th century in Riga.

Originally, all entrances and windows where only on the Torna Street side. The rear of the barracks (Basteja Boulevard side) abutted the ramparts with the ground meeting the building almost at roof level. There was a secret tunnel that ran underground along the entire length of the Basteja side. The tunnel connected the three buildings and enabled the troops to access any of the three barracks without the need to exit onto Torna Street. Alexander II gave permission to remove and level the ramparts in 1858 and the Basteja Boulevard façade was exposed for the first time. In the following years different doors and windows were installed on this side.

During its lifetime, besides housing the troops protecting Riga, it was used as the Riga City registry office, the Bureau of Statistics, a Polish Elementary & Secondary School, the Department of Care for War Victims and Veterans, the Office of Labor Supply and J.Fogel’s firewood store. In the twenties and thirties of the 20th century the idea arose to demolish Jacob’s Barracks. There are 5 sheets of drawings in the archives of the Latvian museum of Architecture, in which designs for a passage, hotel and theatre were worked out.

During the Soviet occupation it was used to house the Nahimova War School. In the early 1990’s it was the Supreme Command Center of the Soviet Army’s Construction Department for the Baltic States. By August of 1993, Jacob’s Barracks was returned to the ownership of the City of Riga.

Over 200 years of operation resulted in a devastating condition of the buildings. On March 22, 1995, InterSource Baltic started reconstruction works on the entire complex. After extensive architectural research was completed, Jacob’ s Barracks was brought back to its original historical appearance.