Long may we live! Long may we live!

The service flat for pensioners, a building with communal amenities paid for by the residents, has its origins in the so-called 'apartment hotel', which emerged in the United States around 1920. It was not intended specifically for the elderly, but for small households, such as single men and women and couples without children.

The American-style service flats on the Jozef Israëlsplein in The Hague had luxurious interiors and many technical innovations such as central heating, hot water supply, intercom, lifts and separate guest rooms. In addition to communal facilities such as a restaurant, personal services included meals delivered to residents' rooms, household assistance and calling for taxis. The combination of comfortable and practical accommodation with support facilities made this model attractive to wealthier pensioners.