Old Amsterdam

To protect themselves from the tides the founders of Amsterdam built a dam in the river Amstel. This dam gave the city its name: Amstel(re)dam, which later became Amsterdam. The Old Quarter is located at a unique spot just in between where the Amstel flowed in the Y and where the dam was built. Nowadays, the dam has become a huge place with on its West side the Royal Palace. An artificial island on which the central station has been built now blocks the connection with the river Y, just north of the Old Quarter. Before this, ships sailed up the river Amstel and loaded their goods directly at the back of the houses of the Warmoesstraat. By the way, Warmoes is an Old Dutch word for vegetables and the name of the street refers to the vegetable gardens of the first inhabitants located nearby.

This street used to be the top-spot of Amsterdam; here the burgomasters and rich merchants once lived. Most of them traded textiles like one Arend Backer who lived in one of the two old houses, which now make up the Old Quarter. At the Amsterdam Historical Museum they have a special display, which tells you more about the people who lived in the Warmoesstraat in these old days (see http://www.channels.nl/amsterdam/historic.html).

As the city rapidly expanded at the end of the 16th century the Old Center became overcrowded. The city council reacted by extending the city along a half-circle around the Old Center, connected by canals: the now world-famous "grachtengordel". The rich and mighty soon re-located to this new part of town and their wonderful city palaces at the canals can still be admired. Immigrants from the south of the Netherlands, which was occupied by Spain, now took up residence in these old houses in the center. Among them was Joost van den Vondel, the Dutch national poet and playwright, who had his silk-shop right at the Warmoesstraat.

Only some 10 years ago, little reminded one that the Warmoesstraat was once Amsterdam's top spot. Nowadays the Warmoesstraat is given a new lease on life. Many of the old houses have been renovated. Renovations of the two old buildings that make up the Old Quarter were completed in 1998. Your present host, Arend Boer and his staff of the Old Quarter will welcome you at your stay at this unique historical spot and make you feel right at home.