De Waag (Weigh House), Amsterdam
The Weigh House, a medieval trading hub dating back to 1488, began as a customs house, where goldsmiths and silversmiths worked their magic on the upper floors. Today, it鈥檚 home to a lively bar and restaurant, but inside you can still marvel at the hefty timber beams and what鈥檚 left of the old weighing scales.
Originally, this building was taller, but the 16th-century city planners had other ideas. When Amsterdam鈥檚 defensive walls came down, the gatehouse lost its fortification and its height. The surrounding moat was filled in, creating a bustling market square, and the ground level was raised, leaving the Weigh House looking quite different than it did in its heyday.
Even so, the building remained at the heart of Amsterdam鈥檚 cultural life. It was here that Rembrandt van Rijn painted 鈥淭he Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolas Tulp,鈥� the work that launched his legendary career. Over the centuries, the Weighing House served many roles, hosting museums, city institutions, and even a fire brigade. In 1996, it found new purpose under the care of the Waag (鈥淲eigh House鈥�) Society, ensuring its historic charm endures for generations to come.
Originally, this building was taller, but the 16th-century city planners had other ideas. When Amsterdam鈥檚 defensive walls came down, the gatehouse lost its fortification and its height. The surrounding moat was filled in, creating a bustling market square, and the ground level was raised, leaving the Weigh House looking quite different than it did in its heyday.
Even so, the building remained at the heart of Amsterdam鈥檚 cultural life. It was here that Rembrandt van Rijn painted 鈥淭he Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolas Tulp,鈥� the work that launched his legendary career. Over the centuries, the Weighing House served many roles, hosting museums, city institutions, and even a fire brigade. In 1996, it found new purpose under the care of the Waag (鈥淲eigh House鈥�) Society, ensuring its historic charm endures for generations to come.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Amsterdam. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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De Waag (Weigh House) on Map
Sight Name: De Waag (Weigh House)
Sight Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands (See walking tours in Amsterdam)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands (See walking tours in Amsterdam)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
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