The rampart of old Amsterdam, De Waag is a monument to the city's great past.
Today, I'd like to take you on a tour of this unique place.
De Waag Amsterdam: article summary
From Waag to Amsterdam: a little history
The city walls, of which the "Sint Anthoniespoort" (Waag's former name), were built between 1481 and 1494.
These walls have now completely disappeared and the only remains are :
- A door
- The lower part of another door
- Regulierspoort (now Munttoren)
- A defensive tower: the Schreierstoren
When the town expanded at the end of the 16th century, the wall was demolished and the gate lost its function. The Nieuwmarkt (new market) was created around it.
The market scales, meanwhile, were placed in the old gateway. The name comes from this period (Waag is an old Dutch word meaning "ladder).
Pay attention to details
During your visit, you'll be able to enjoy many of the building's subtly hidden details. The best-known of these is the marking you can find above one of the doors.
The building bears Amsterdam's oldest plaque, which reads "On April 28, 1488, the first stone of this gate was laid".
A place reserved for Guilds
For a time, the upper floors housed 4 corporations, namely :
- Blacksmiths
- Painters
- Masons
- Surgeons
Each guild had its own entrance tower and premises. This made it easier for locals to find their way around. the services of the time grouped together in a single location.
The Waag is featured in Rembrandt's 1632 painting The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp.
The Surgeons' Guild commissioned this painting for their home in the Waag.
In 1691, a theatrum anatomicum was added. This became famous for paying members of the public for attend human dissections.
After the dissolution of the guilds around 1795, the building served many purposes, later housing a fire department and 2 museums. It wasn't until 1990 that the building was returned to a foundation.
She had intended to destroy part of the building, but was unable to do so. went bankrupt before the plans could be implemented.
From Waag to Amsterdam: nowadays
Today, the building is home to the Waag Society, an institute for art, science and technology. There's also a café-restaurant on the first floor.
The Waag Restaurant in Amsterdam
The Café De Waag restaurant occupies the first floor. I highly recommend lunch in this restaurant.
They propose :
- Excellent cuisine
- A delicious coffee
- Delicious Dutch beers
- Excellent wines
Enjoy a sit-down lunch or dinner in Amsterdam's oldest non-religious building.
Degradation over time
Recent research has shown that the building is settling unevenly, which could potentially destroy the Waag.
In fact, cracks had already begun to form in the Masons Tower. The current restoration of the foundation was therefore inevitable.
It will offer a new future for the ancient, monumental and striking De Waag.
Where is De Waag in Amsterdam?
De Waag is located in the heart of the old town, a few steps from the main station. To get there, you can borrow :
- Visit metro 51, 53 or 54 and get off at Nieuwmarkt station
What are the opening hours?
You can visit the site :
- Thursday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- Monday to Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
De Waag in Amsterdam is an interesting place to discover. During your trip, I recommend that you stop off to enjoy the remnants of the town's history.
What to do in Amsterdam in 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, a week?
Whatever the length of your stay, I invite you to download my special Amsterdam guide.
It's free and in PDF format.
All you have to do is tell me below which e-mail address you'd like to receive it at.
EDIT: you can't enter your email?
Take the quiz at the top of this article and you'll be able to register your email address to receive the special Amsterdam guide!
Leave a Reply