As the crown jewel of the Nieuwmarkt, the vibrant square at the heart of Amsterdam Chinatown, De Waag inevitably prompts questions from first-time visitors to Amsterdam. First of all, what is it? The stone bastion is a 15th-century remnant of the former city walls, hence its fortress-like appearance; once known as Sint Antoniespoort (Saint Anthony's Gate), it lost its function as the city expanded, as did the two dikes - the Zeedijk and the Sint Antoniesdijk, for which it was named (now Sint Antoniesbreestraat) - that it straddled.


But why "De Waag"? This name dates from the Sint Antoniespoort's new role as a weigh house. The Nieuwmarkt (New Market) had cropped up where the former city wall once stood, and the market needed a public facility where merchandise could be weighed. Trade guilds occupied the upper floors of De Waag, one of which was the surgeons' guild; this same guild was the inspiration for one of Rembrandt's most famous works, "The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp" (1632).

And last, what's in De Waag now? Today, De Waag houses Restaurant Café In de Waag, which owes its unparalleled atmosphere to its historic quarters - and the 300 candles that illuminate its interior. In previous times, De Waag was also the site of the Amsterdam Museum and the Jewish Historical Museum, both of which have since moved to more spacious premises; however, it does still host a cultural institution, namely the Waag Society, a research center that aims to unite the arts, culture and science in its social innovation initiatives.

De Waag Visitor Information

• Address: Nieuwmarkt 4
  1012 CR Amsterdam
   
• Location:Amsterdam Chinatown
   
• Directions: From the south side of Amsterdam Central Station, follow Prins Hendrikkade eastward to the small square (full of hotels, such as the NH Barbizon Palace) where it branches off into Zeedijk. Head south down Zeedijk, which culminates in Nieuwmarkt square.