Nieuwmarkt Square

1. Arrival
2. Nights
3. Guests
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Nieuwmarkt (New Market) is a square in central Amsterdam known for its markets, historic buildings (particularly the De Waag building) and numerous cafes and coffee shops. The square is a great place to visit on a day out and convenient from any of our apartments in Amsterdam.

Nieuwmarkt Square came into existence in 1614 when the surrounding canals were filled in. The space soon became used as a marketplace, giving the location its name. When World War II reached the streets of Amsterdam the square was used by the Nazis as a round-up point for the city’s Jewish inhabitants. Once assembled, the detainees were sent to the concentration camps.

The square is today dominated by the impressive De Waag building. The building was originally a gate house in the medieval city walls but became a weighing house when the defensive walls were demolished in the 17th century. The De Waag was later used as a doctor’s theatre (where human corpses were publicly dissected), before housing the Amsterdam Historical Museum and then the Jewish Historical Museum.

Today, the De Waag houses a beautiful cafe/restaurant, a great place to eat when staying in our apartments in Amsterdam. For more information on the De Waag restaurant have a look at www.indewaag.nl. The square is also well known for its markets, particularly the organic food market on Saturdays. In the summer months you can find antiques stalls and booksellers on the square each Sunday. Summer is the best time to visit the square with children, especially when Circus Rigolo comes to the Nieuwmarkt every August.

The Nieuwmarkt has a great selection of restaurants, cafes and bars so there are always plenty of places to eat when visiting the square from our apartments in Amsterdam. Also keep an eye out for the Jacob Hooey apothecary and drugstore, the city’s oldest chemist. For drugs of a slightly different nature, there are plenty of coffee shops dotted around the square and its immediate surroundings.

The Nieuwmarkt is located in Amsterdam’s Chinatown, next door to the Red Light District (De Wallen). The square is easily reached from all of our apartments in Amsterdam. Centrally located, the Nieuwmarkt is within walking distance from Central Station, Waterlooplein and Dam Square. Alternatively, take the metro from Central Station and you will arrive at the Nieuwmarkt station (opposite the De Waag) in a couple of minutes.