Pieter Schenk: The fish market on the Dam square (1693)

 (Beeldbank, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)

An engraving made by the Dutch-German artist Pieter Schenk (1660-1713). This print offers a view of a part of the Dam Square in Amsterdam in the 17th century. The Dam square on the "old side" of Amsterdam (called "Oudezijds") was called the 'fishermen dam' as the fish market was located there. The market was outdoors with room for about 120 fishmongers. This fishmarket can be seen in the centre (for river fish) and on the left side (for seafish). The boats moored here are fishermen who were obligated to sell their fish alive. Also visible in the centre is the Dam lock of the Dam square. The large building in the back is a large complex of seven houses (called "the House under the Sail", or 't Huis onder 't Zeil in Dutch). The fishmarket was removed from the Dam square in 1841, the House under the Sail was rebuilt in 1774-1775 (since then it was called the 'Commander's house') and demolished in 1912. Print from 1693.