When the architects Jacob van Campen, Pieter Post and Philips Vingboons introduced classicism in the Dutch Republic in the thirties and forties of the seventeenth century, this architectural principle soon got anchored in the world of commissioners, architects and dilettantes. But it did not remain restricted to the latter group; due to merchants' and architects' frequent travels, Dutch classicism developed into an international design principle. In the course of the seventeenth century various Dutch architects worked abroad or in their own studios at assignments commissioned from abroad. Besides, many a foreign architect travelled to the Dutch Republic in order to follow an education. The distribution of architecture treatises also increased the scope of Dutch classicism. The Dutch Republic proves to have played a more active role in early modern Europe than is suggested in current architecture historiography. The Dutch Republic was not just the recipient of new architecture trends from Italy and France, but also functioned as a centre from where these trends emanated towards North-East Europe in the period 1640-1700. The contacts between the Dutch Republic and Sweden represent a special chapter in the history of architecture of North- East Europe. Two private houses, belonging to the Dutch ironmongers Louis de Geer and his son Louis de Geer jr. play an important part in the introduction of Dutch classicism in Sweden. Fitting in with the traditions of his time, Louis de Geer occupied himself with horticulture and architecture besides his iron and copper trade. His private house, dating from 1646, was the first Dutch classicist building in Stockholm. An analysis of the drawing of the facade, detail drawings and ground plans, point in the direction of a dilettante-architect with the background of a craftsman. And not of a painter, unlike most 17th century architects. Possibly Louis de Geer asked Joost Henne, a Dutch mason in his employment during the building period, to make a design for his house with the aid of ...