Ooievaar

Ooievaar is a slightly constructivist sans typeface designed by Ramiro Espinoza, based on the distinctive street name signage found throughout The Hague. This technical-looking alphabet, with its clean lines and utilitarian simplicity, has long been a quiet but defining element of the city’s visual identity. Designed for legibility and clarity in the urban environment, its no-nonsense forms reflect the spirit of mid-century modernist design.
With Ooievaar, Espinoza pays tribute to this understated typographic system, carefully translating its character into a complete and contemporary digital typeface. Its squarish forms, compressed proportions, open counters, and restrained rhythm make it ideal for signage, editorial design, posters, websites, and visual identities that demand precision and clarity.
Named after the Dutch word for “stork”—the emblem of The Hague—Ooievaar is more than a revival; it’s a celebration of civic design and the role typography plays in shaping public space. Now available through Brutal Types, it brings a piece of The Hague’s street-level heritage into the hands of today’s designers.