This thesis examines the architecture of Dutch station buildings during the rise of the railways between 1840 and 1875. By analysing four representative stations - the Willemspoort station in Amsterdam (HIJSM, 1843), the Smallepad station in Amersfoort (NCS, 1863), the Rhijnspoorweg station in The Hague (NRS, 1870) and Dordrecht station (MESS, 1872) - insight is gained into how siting, style, building layout and routing came together in the design of this new building type.
The research question here is: how were railway company station buildings created and designed in terms of architecture and function between 1840 and 1875?
The research shows that the station was more than a functional junction during this period. It functioned as a representative structure that reflected the railway company's identity and ambitions. Stations were usually located at the edge of the historic city centre and approached frontally, which reinforced their role as a city gateway.
The companies employed different design strategies: for instance, the HIJSM and NRS opted for monumental neo-classical designs, while NCS and MESS built more functional and sober stations in neo-Renaissance style. The layout, however, showed many similarities, with hierarchical structure, clear zoning and direct access to the platform. The Hague and Dordrecht thereby paid extra attention to passenger flow.

The thesis concludes that during this period, the station building developed into a recognisable and meaningful building type, based on a shared design strategy in which representation, spatial arrangement and user-oriented routing were central.