Michel de Klerk was born in the jewish neighbourhood of Amsterdam as the 25th child of a 79-year old father, and became famous as one of the founding architects of the Amsterdam School, an expressionistic movement inspired by socialism, of which he was probably the most talented member. His career started just after primary school, when architect Eduard Cuypers discovered De Klerk's remarkable talent at drawing. It was at Cuypers' office where De Klerk met his later companions Van de Mey and Kramer. He stayed there for twelve years. After he had married in 1910, and made a trip through Scandinavia, he joined the office of Herman Baanders in Amsterdam, where he became both drawer and supervisor. A short while after he began his career as an architect. In November 1923 he died, aged 39. In this short career he had proved to be a productive and highly original architect, completely devoid of any conservatism and always willing to explore his limits. Suffice to say, he was also very much a criticised architect, who was especially under constant fire from the contemporary Functionalists, who despised De Klerk's love for beauty and craftsmanship. His influence outside Amsterdam was very limited, and of his many designs only relatively few were actually built, mostly in Amsterdam. The following is a listing of De Klerk's realised work only.

1911 Uithoorn (NH): house De Klerk's first design that was built, although he had been designing for several years. Several designs were made. The finished house already hints at what the Amsterdam School style would look like, although it's still very moderate. The facade consists of two parts, a protruding one with windows, and a part with the main door, which stays a bit behind.

1911-1912 Amsterdam (NH): Hillehuis       This is an at first sight conventional block, with a fairly traditionally decorated facade, influenced by classical architecture. However, the internal lay-out is not as obvious as the outside ornamentation suggests. The first floor has a balcony over its entire length; the originally metal fence has been replaced by a concrete one since.

1913-1914 Amsterdam (NH): First block Spaarndammerplantsoen First of three complexes for workers that De Klerk designed around a small park. Large facade influenced by classical architecture, with from the outside clearly recognizable staircases.

1914 Hilversum (NH): house Bileken Small two-storey house. De Klerk designed this house up to its smallest details. The building still excists, but has been mutilated by a number of rebuilts.

1914-1918 Amsterdam (NH): Second block Spaarndammerplantsoen         More imaginative than its predecessor is this building. Many typical features of the Amsterdam School become apparent here; thick decorated window frames, parabola shaped windows, staircases vertically covered with roofing tiles.

1917-1921 Amsterdam (NH): Third block Spaarndammerplantsoen ('Het Schip')         Housing complex with post-office. Probably the most imaginative of De Klerk's realised designs. Several purely decorative structures, like a spire covered with roofing tiles.

1918-1923 Amsterdam (NH): First complex for De Dageraad Designed in cooperation with P. Kramer; who was responsible for what remains uncertain. Again, this is a complex with many different sides.

1920-1922 Aalsmeer (NH): Auction-building Bloemenlust Sober building for flower auctions.

1921-1923 Ijsselstein (U): restoration church-tower New spire for a Renaissance church-tower. This was De Klerk's only restoration job. Finished after De Klerk's death.

1921-1923 Amsterdam (NH): Complex for Amstel's Bouwvereeniging Complex for the Amstel housing association. Large facade with long, staired balcony's (leaving some tennants without one) and few other decorations.

1922-1924 Amsterdam (NH): Clubhouse 'De Hoop' Clubhouse for a rowing- and sailing-club. Demolished 1944.

1923 Aalsmeer (NH): house Barendsen House with barn, for one of the board-members of auction Bloemenlust.