Already the end of the 18th century saw a
reaction against baroque and rococo in the form of neo-classisism. This style
reaches back to the art of building of roman and greek antiquity and
renaissance. Departure point for neo-classicism were the five column types, each
with theire own shapes:
Tuscan, Doric, Ionian, Corintian and Composite.
Around 1830 architects
were caught by the ideas of the middle ages. As a consequence a style developped
based on medieval gothic style: neo-gothic. It was applied mainly in churches.
From 1875 onwards architects were more
and more inspired by the Dutch Golden Age, the 
Dutch
Renaissance. Not coincidentally this renewed interest for this style came with
an economic upsurge following industrialisation. Dutch Neo-renaissance is
chracterised by step and gable façades, classical details like pillars, obelisks
and diamond heads - sometimes of real natural stones, but often made of gypsum -
and embelishments to fences and cramps. Façade panels often refer to historic
events and persons. Dutch Neorenaissance seems to have become a sort of national
style. The style of choice for buildings of a national interest like the
Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam or the University building in Utrecht. In Rotterdam a
lot of neorenaissance can be seen in the eastern part of the district of
Kralingen.
Sometimes the neo styles are mixed or architects choose the neo style that best fits the function of the building or the preferences of the commission party: eclecticism.
Architecture was not as much an art form, but rather a craft. Buildings are designed according to a technical recipe for which a matching style is chosen.