Brick or Hollow? Mounting Things on Amsterdam Walls Without Damage
Old Amsterdam apartments hide plaster, brick and hollow partitions behind the same paint. Here's how to tell them apart and pick the right anchor.
A TV that pulled out of the wall is one of the most expensive lessons in an Amsterdam rental. The reason is almost always the wall type: the same white paint can cover solid brick, soft plaster over brick, or a hollow plasterboard partition with nothing behind it.
Quick test before you drill
- Knock: a dull, solid sound means brick or concrete; a light echo means hollow
- Drill a small test hole in a hidden spot and look at the dust: red-grey is brick, white and fine is plaster or plasterboard
- Always check for cables and pipes above sockets and switches
Matching the anchor to the wall
Brick takes a standard nylon plug, but the screw must reach past the plaster into the brick itself — that is where the strength comes from. Hollow walls need spring toggles or metal cavity anchors that open behind the board; plastic push-in plugs are the usual cause of failure. Heavy loads on a hollow wall should be fixed into the timber or metal studs whenever possible.
Renting? Think about removal too
Fewer, well-placed fixings are easier to fill and repaint than many small ones. Keep the original packaging and brackets, and note the drill positions — it makes the move-out repair a 30-minute job instead of a repaint of the whole room.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my wall is hollow?
Knock on it: a light echo means a hollow partition, a dull solid sound means brick or concrete. Drill dust is the second clue — white and fine for plasterboard, red-grey for brick.
Can I hang a TV on a hollow wall?
Only with the right fixings: metal cavity anchors or spring toggles, and ideally screwed into the studs behind the board. Plastic push-in plugs are the usual reason mounts tear out.