Industry: Design

Amsterdam Grotesk

Brussels wood type resurrected as a contemporary workhorse

Amsterdam Grotesk is a revival based on wood type found in the type cases of Unitype, an old printing workshop in Brussels. Designer Yann Esnault conducted extensive historical research into the origins of the wooden letters while simultaneously developing the typeface. The result is a sans-serif that stabilises certain inherited Grotesque/Gothic forms and introduces a calligraphic sensibility visible in its stroke terminals, ample bowls, and other defining features. Released in 2025, this sans-serif marks the first stage of a broader family.

Set in Amsterdam Grotesk

Insights

The source material was wood type discovered in a Brussels workshop called Unitype, requiring origin research concurrent with design development.
Esnault stabilised certain inherited letterforms, balancing the revival's historical shapes with contemporary refinement.
Calligraphic character appears across stroke terminals, ample bowls, and other features—not terminals alone.
The initial release is a sans-serif only; it is described as the first step toward a broader family.