Waag Travel Guide

Originally constructed in 1488 as Sint Antoniespoort, the Waag served as a key city gate in Amsterdam's medieval walls along the Zeedijk. It marked the entrance to the expanding city, with canals on either side later covered to form Nieuwmarkt square. As the oldest non-religious structure in Amsterdam, it predates many landmarks and carries the city's earliest plaque commemorating its foundation.[1][2][5]

By 1617-1618, the gate was repurposed as a weigh house to alleviate pressure on the Dam square facility, featuring added windows, double doors, and scales for taxing goods like merchandise excluding butter and bacon. Guilds of surgeons, smiths, painters, and masons occupied the upper floors, each with dedicated tower entrances. In 1690-1691, an octagonal domed hall and central tower were added, housing the Theatrum Anatomicum for anatomy lessons, immortalized in Rembrandt's 1632 'The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp'.[1][2][5][13]

The Waag's functions evolved: a fencing hall, cholera commission, furniture workshop, fire station (1874-1888), city archives until 1914, and sites for public executions under Napoleon. From 1926, it hosted the Amsterdam Historical Museum and Jewish Historical Museum. After restoration in 1996, Waag Society occupied upper floors for art, science, and technology, while the ground floor became Restaurant-Café In de Waag.[1][3][5]

Today, In de Waag offers French-Dutch fusion cuisine with seasonal sharing plates, vegetarians options, and terrace views of bustling Nieuwmarkt. Illuminated by 300 candles, the interior evokes a castle-like romance, perfect for lunch, dinner, or events in historic spaces. Open daily, it's a moderate-priced gem blending heritage dining with the square's vibrant market energy.[6][7][11]

At Nieuwmarkt 4, the Waag anchors the lively square near metro (Nieuwmarkt station, 2-min walk) and Centraal Station (7-min walk). Trams 51, 53, 54 stop nearby; biking or walking suits Amsterdam's compact center. Listed as a rijksmonument since 1970, it remains a cultural focal point.[2][4]