Amsterdam, grain exchange – Leon Schenk after Adolph van der Laan, 1751-1766

LIVELY VIEW OF THE AMSTERDAM GRAIN EXCHANGE

“Gezigt van de Koorn-Beurs, staande op ‘t Water by de Oude-Brug ‘t Amsterdam, gebouwt in ‘t Jaar 1617” (View of the Grain Exchange, standing on the Water near the Old Bridge in Amsterdam, built in the year 1617.) Engraving printed from two copperplates, made between 1751 and 1766. Engraved by Jan Schenk after a drawing by Adolph van der Laan and published by Leon Schenk. COloured by a later hand. Size: 56 × 96 cm.

The economic growth of Amsterdam in the 17th century led to a reorganization of trade practices. In 1611, stock exchange traders were given their own building so they no longer had to conduct their meetings outdoors. Grain and salt merchants, however, continued to gather on the streets. In bad weather, they would shelter under the awnings of the shops along the Damrak, much to the annoyance of shopkeepers and residents.

Under the direction of city architect Hendrick de Keyser—who had also designed the stock exchange on Dam Square—a separate exchange for grain merchants was constructed in 1616/1617. It was a wooden building on piles in the still-unfilled Damrak. (In the print, the Oudebrug (old bridge) can be seen on the left and the tower of the Old Church on the right.)

At the Amsterdam Grain Exchange, grain imported by ship from the countries around the Baltic Sea was resold to traders from across Europe. The exchange consisted of a square courtyard with arcades on pillars. Along the walls of the arcades stood boxes containing grain samples. Merchants needed good light to judge the samples by colour. Any grain that spilled onto the exchange floor during inspection became the property of the market master. Once a lot was sold, official grain measurers and weighers ensured it was distributed according to standard units set by the trade guilds.

The grain exchange was the central building in a series of constructions erected in Amsterdam during the first half of the 17th century to accommodate its booming trade, helping the city develop into Europe’s key entrepôt during the Golden Age.

In 1768, the grain exchange was rebuilt in stone. That building remained in place until it was demolished in 1884. Today, the site is occupied by the Beurs van Berlage (with Amsterdam Central Station further to the left).

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