Arent grew up in Nijkerk, a rural community southeast of Amsterdam. His family’s farmhouse was of a common style known as a hallehuis, an aisled house. These buildings were constructed with H-shaped framing on stone or brick footings, creating a large open space for living quarters, stables and work areas such as a threshing floor. Living quarters occupied one end, the barn the other. An open hearth vented through a smoke hole in a thatch roof. Wattle and daub typically sided the buildings. As a family grew wealthier, it might add a brick firewall between the dwelling and the barn, a chimney, a brick façade, a cellar and interior walls.

The “large farmhouse” Arent described in his 1643 letter matches the hallehuis style. The archaeologists uncovered the sorts of improvements a family would add as its business prospered. The cellars themselves are evidence, as are the building artifacts discovered in them.

Brick fragments with plaster suggest Arent built a firewall and chimney. Pan tiles probably roofed the area around the chimney, replacing thatch. Inside, the open hearth was adorned with tin glazed tiles and plaster and shielded with a cast iron fire back. Leaded glass panes filled casement windows. Shutters protected them. Walls divided the interior.

All in all, Arent built a comfortable and well-appointed residence for himself and his wife Anthonia.