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Netherlands · Sandstone

Bentheimer Sandstone

also known as Bentheim Sandstone, Gildehauser Sandstein, Yellow Sandstone Netherlands

A fine-grained Cretaceous sandstone quarried in the Bentheim region on the Dutch-German border, with a distinctive warm yellow-buff colour. It has been the primary building stone for historic Dutch cities (Zwolle, Deventer, Kampen) and German Westphalian towns for over 1,000 years. Highly workable and weather-resistant when properly maintained, it is valued today for heritage restoration and new buildings seeking authentic Northern European character.

Origin
Bentheim/Gildehaus region, eastern Netherlands (Overijssel) and German border, Netherlands
Stone type
Sandstone
Density
2.25 g/cm³
Look
warm, heritage, Northern European, rustic, artisanal
Finishes
sawn, honed, bush-hammered, picked
Formats
block, slab, tile, cut-to-size, masonry
Exterior use
Suitable — dense, exterior-grade

Type-level physical facts shown. Per-lot lab values (absorption, flexural strength) confirmed at quotation.

Good to know

Is Bentheimer Sandstone the same as the stone in Dutch historical city centres?

Yes. It is the defining stone of the IJssel valley cities in the eastern Netherlands: Zwolle, Deventer, and Kampen all feature Bentheimer Sandstone in their medieval churches and civic buildings.

How does Bentheimer Sandstone perform outdoors?

It is naturally exterior-grade and has survived centuries on Dutch building facades. However, like all porous sandstones, it benefits from hydrophobic treatment in polluted urban environments.

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