| Amsterdam, the capital of Europe's first republic, is a treasure-house of more historic buildings and sites than any other city in the world. Actually the whole center, including its canals and bridges, is a historical monument. According to recent data there are 7,002 historic buildings in Amsterdam which fall under the jurisdiction of the national government, and the list is growing. |
Stereocards or 3D Virtual Reality Cards were introduced
in 1855. View on the Dam, the Royal Palace and the Horse-tramway.
The column in the middle and the female statue on it is the socalled "Naatje",
a sculpture "in memorial" to the war against the Southern parts of the Netherlands,
today Belgium. This ugly statue has been demolished in 1914. "Naatje",(a nickname
in Dutch) means "a fiasco, or worse".The statue is kept in the cellar-vaults
of the Municipal Museum "Stedelijk Museum".
Dam, 1633 (below) with the Old Townhall (left),the Old Marketplace (center)
and the Nieuwe Kerk (background)
Etching by Adriaen van Nieulandt: Jaarlykse ommegank der Leproozen op Coppertjes
maandag Opgehoude int jaare 1604.
Yearly walk-about (perambulation) of the lepers on "copper monday", 1604
Below: Damsquare about 1570. "Butter and Cheese market. Engraving
Jacob van der Velde.
The Old Townhall , The New Church and "De Waech"
Below: Dam, 1650 (Formerly called "De Plaetse") (engraving by Pieter
Hendricksz. Schut,1619-1662).
In the center, the Old Market Place "Dī Oude Waeg". Behind, the "mighty tower"
of the New Church rises. Though this tower has never been build !
Model of the tower (Gothic style) of the New Church, designed by Jacob van
Campen, Rijksmuseum.
Only the main entrance has been preserved.
The old Town House,Dam-square 14th century (Engraving),burned in 1652.
On the background,the small tower of the New Church.
"De WAEGH op de DAM" and at the left the tower of the Old Church.
The third house at the right is the only original house that can be seen to
day on the Dam-Square (near Hotel Krasnapolsky), see the image below.
Historical information.
The Royal Palace (Stadhuis) is a design of Jacob van Campen together with other famous architects and it is one of the most imposant buildings in the world during its time.It is a representant of the Renaissance-style and it is build on 13659 wooden stakes. In the year 1648 (Peace of Munster and Westfalen, the end of the eighty years war) the foundation stone was layed on 28 october by Gerbrant Pancras, Jacob de Graef, Sybrant Valckenier and Pieter Schaep, sons and nephews of the ruling Lord Mayors (KINGS) of Amsterdam at that time.
The execution was performed by Daniel Stalpaert,
architect of the Portuguees Jewish Synagogue at the Daniel Meier Square, Amsterdam.
The plans for the design were made by Jacob van Campen in cooperation with
Pieter Post and and Willem de Keyser, son of architect Hendrick de Keyser.
Jacob van Campen learned the architecture in Italy (Vicenza, Andrea Palladio).
In 1654 van Campen withdraw himself from continuing the practical execution
of the Stadhuis : it was not in accord to his own idea. After the inauguration
of the Palace (in 1665) an enamelled window (about the Peace of Munster) was
placed in the Old Church because of the fact that there was no room any more
in the Palace.
Poem of the National Poet "Joost van den Vondel" on Jacob van Campen
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īD aartsbouwheer uit de stam Van Kampen rust hier onder, Die īt raedhuis īt Amsterdam Gesticht heeft, īt achste wonder. |
Poem of Constantijn Huygens on the Stadhuis ("The eighth Wonder of the World" .
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Doorluchte stichteren van īs werelds achtste wonder, Van sooveel steens omhoog, op zoveel houts van onder, Van sooveel kostelicks, soo konstiglic verwrocht, Van sooveel heerlickheits, tot soo veel nuts gebrocht, God, die u macht en pracht met reden gaf te voegen, God geevīu int gebouw, met reden en genoegen Te toonen wie gij zijt, daer ick īt al un sluyt, Heil zij daer eewigh in en onheil eewigh uyt. |
O.Dapper: Historische beschrijving der Stadt Amsterdam,Ed. Van Meurs Amsterdam,(1663)
Jan Wagenaar:Amsterdam in zijne opkomst aanwas , geschiedenissen voorrechten koophandel gebouwen,(1760-1767)
A.Bredius et.al:Amsterdam in de zeventiende eeuw, Volume III, Ed. W.P. van Stockum & Sons, ´s Gravenhage,(1901)
Dr. H. Brugmans: Geschiedenis van Amsterdam,deel 3, page 91,(1930-1933)
Website: Amsterdam
and the VOC