Netherlands and Dutch America This type of door was common in the
Netherlands in the
17th century and appears in Dutch paintings of the period. It was also commonly found in the culturally Dutch areas of
New York and
New Jersey before the
American Revolution.
Rail cars Dutch doors were often used in passenger railcars in North America to allow crewmen to interact with employees outside or to carry out visual inspections. In
Australia,
post-war passenger cars and brakevans were similarly configured. Those on passenger cars were later converted to conventional doors for passenger safety. In Canada, changes to operating rules rendered Dutch doors obsolete, although older
rolling stock retains them.
Ireland Similar doors were once commonplace in Irish houses, called half-doors ( or
comhla bheag). According to
The Irish Times, "A traditional half-door is really a door and a half – a full door that opens inwards and a half door set to the front of the frame that opens outwards." They were designed to keep
poultry and
pigs from entering the house, while allowing air and sunlight into the usually dark and smoky cottages.
Indoors They have been used indoors in residential care homes to control wandering but maintain a line of sight and in child-care environments, but in that context, there are risks of finger-trapping and concerns over fire regulations. == See also ==