{"id":1361,"date":"2011-05-03T20:31:18","date_gmt":"2011-05-03T20:31:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/?p=1361"},"modified":"2014-07-18T15:04:24","modified_gmt":"2014-07-18T15:04:24","slug":"waag-amsterdams-oldest-surviving-medieval-gatehouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/waag-amsterdams-oldest-surviving-medieval-gatehouse\/","title":{"rendered":"Waag: Amsterdam’s Oldest Surviving Medieval Gatehouse"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is a building in the middle of the market square, Nieuwmarkt, in Amsterdam. \u00a0Easily spotted despite the market stands sometimes surrounding it; the brick building, featuring several towers is Amsterdam’s oldest surviving medieval gatehouse. Known by many as St. Antoniespoort, this building is called Waag.<\/p>\n

Waag was built in 1488, with the intention of being one of the three main city gates. \u00a0It served its purpose until 1601 when the city walls were torn down in order to expand the city. \u00a0In 1617, the building became a public weigh house. \u00a0Products and goods were brought to the weigh house by peasants in order to be weighed and taxed.<\/p>\n

The upper floors of the gatehouse were used for other purposes. \u00a0The rooms here were designated for members of particular guilds including blacksmiths, artists and masons. \u00a0The doors that led to these rooms were adorned with a symbol of that particular guild. \u00a0From 1619, the Guild of Surgeons had their meeting room and anatomy theatre in the building. \u00a0Rembrandt’s Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp<\/a><\/em> and The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Jan Deijman<\/em> were commissioned and hung here during that time. \u00a0At the beginning of the 19th century, when most of the guilds were disbanded, the building became for the most part empty.<\/p>\n

During the early 19th century, by order of Napoleon, public executions were performed here. \u00a0As the crowds cheered outside, condemned prisoners waited inside in the “little gallows room.”<\/p>\n

Following this dark period in the buildings history, many different groups occupied the building, including a furnishings factory, a fire station and two city museums. For six years, it served as the Amsterdam Historical Museum, Nieuwmarkt Square and for many additional years, it was home to the Jewish Historical Museum.<\/p>\n

For the most part, the building is now closed to the general public, however since 1996 the old gatehouse has been the home of the Restaurant-Caf\u00e9 , In de Waag<\/a><\/em>. \u00a0Open for lunch, dinner and special functions – highlights include the 300 candles and high-hanging candelabras, which create a castle-like atmosphere.<\/p>\n

Waag can make for an excellent location to grab a bite to eat (or at one of the surrounding caf\u00e9s) but it is also an excellent building for orientating yourself if you are in the area because of its distinctive appearance.<\/p>\n

Have you eaten at In de Waag<\/em> or snapped a picture of the building itself? \u00a0Why not share your images with the Facebook group?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"Photo

There is a building in the middle of the market square, Nieuwmarkt, in Amsterdam. \u00a0Easily spotted despite the market stands sometimes surrounding it; the brick building, featuring several towers is Amsterdam’s oldest surviving medieval gatehouse. Known by many as St. Antoniespoort, this building is called Waag. Waag was built in 1488, with the intention of…<\/p>\n

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