When you view the photo is a larger size you’ll notice how crooked the house at the corner is. It’s been like that for as long as I can remember, but more recently experts have warned that changes in the Dutch climate have lead to lower ground water levels, which in turn causes some historic houses in Amsterdam to subside.
The Nieuwmarkt in Amsterdam is dominated by De Waag, the former Sint Antoniespoort (St. Anthony’s Gate), which used to be part of the Medieval defense wall built in 1481.
The Waag lost its defensive function in the early 17th century, when the wall was demolished.
The building was subsequently converted into a weighing house (Waag = weighing scales) meant to take the pressure off of the weighing house at Dam Square, which has become too small for the flow of goods coming into the city.
Small merchant ships and other vessels — which ferried goods from larger boats anchored in the nearby harbor — would sail up de Geldersekade.
Once unloaded the goods were weighed and then sold at the ‘new market’ = nieuwe markt, which explains the name of the square: Nieuwmarkt.
The building was designed by Jacob van Campen in the 17th century. It is built on 13,659 wooden piles driven deep into the sandy, wet ground.
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Amsterdam: Brouwersgracht / Binnen Oranjestraat
