Prior to the establishment of international standards for weights cities often had weigh houses. Local authorities would not only officially determine the weight of goods, but they would also levy taxes on goods transported through and sold within the city. As such weigh houses were often located near market squares or the town center.
Dam Square was and still is located in the heart of Amsterdam. During the middle ages it served as a market square for the city. The first weigh house was constructed near the square in 1341. It was replaced by the the building in the above linked image in 1565. King Louis Napoleon I ordered the destruction of the building in 1808, reportedly because he was dissatisfied with it obscuring the view from his new home, the former city hall (the construction of which can also be seen in the above linked image).
The square has changed considerably since the creation of the painting in the 17th century. The canal has been filled and many of the buildings have since been replaced. The Royal Palace and the New Church however are still there. Today the square is a major tourist hot spot with countless shops, department stores and tourist attractions.
The scale in that painting is a little off. Just a little. I wish this building was still there, as well as all the other facades visible. Dam Square is incredibly boring. Only big buildings and modern buildings, none of the old city charm. Only on the east side are there still 2-3 cool looking houses.
Dumbledoofussays
Is that the Paleis op de Dam under construction in the background?
Kitarn says
Prior to the establishment of international standards for weights cities often had weigh houses. Local authorities would not only officially determine the weight of goods, but they would also levy taxes on goods transported through and sold within the city. As such weigh houses were often located near market squares or the town center.
Dam Square was and still is located in the heart of Amsterdam. During the middle ages it served as a market square for the city. The first weigh house was constructed near the square in 1341. It was replaced by the the building in the above linked image in 1565. King Louis Napoleon I ordered the destruction of the building in 1808, reportedly because he was dissatisfied with it obscuring the view from his new home, the former city hall (the construction of which can also be seen in the above linked image).
The square has changed considerably since the creation of the painting in the 17th century. The canal has been filled and many of the buildings have since been replaced. The Royal Palace and the New Church however are still there. Today the square is a major tourist hot spot with countless shops, department stores and tourist attractions.
​
[View of the square from the second half of the 17th century with the completed city hall](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/AmsterdamDamsquar.jpg)
[Scale model of the square with the weigh house](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Maquette_Dam%2C_Vismarkt.JPG)
[Location today](https://www.google.com/maps/@52.3730262,4.8929539,3a,58.7y,268.75h,97.79t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sAF1QipNVExk3Gl5zAl8t0E7f1tiwomLAMHN9IQ8cf_vK!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipNVExk3Gl5zAl8t0E7f1tiwomLAMHN9IQ8cf_vK%3Dw203-h100-k-no-pi-0-ya322.73343-ro0-fo100!7i8704!8i4352)
Patsboem says
The scale in that painting is a little off. Just a little. I wish this building was still there, as well as all the other facades visible. Dam Square is incredibly boring. Only big buildings and modern buildings, none of the old city charm. Only on the east side are there still 2-3 cool looking houses.
Dumbledoofus says
Is that the Paleis op de Dam under construction in the background?