Waag (1582) - a photo on Flickriver

Waag (1582)

            Waagplein 2, Alkmaar.
Rijksmonument 7446

De Waag in Alkmaar is een gebouw op het Waagplein dat in gebruik is geweest als kapel en waag. Het Hollands Kaasmuseum en de VVV zijn tegenwoordig in het gebouw gevestigd. Het gebouw heeft een toren met beroemde ruitertjes en een fraai carillon. Het gebouw is in 1969 aangewezen als rijksmonument. Op het Waagplein wordt in de zomer de kaasmarkt gehouden. 

De geschiedenis van het waaggebouw gaat terug tot de 14e eeuw. In die periode was het gebouw als kapel van het naastgelegen H. Geestgasthuis in gebruik. In dit gasthuis konden arme reizigers gedurende drie dagen en nachten gratis onderdak krijgen; ook werden er zieken verpleegd door monniken of nonnen. In 1566 gaf de bisschop van Haarlem toestemming om het H. Geestgasthuis in te richten tot waaggebouw. In 1582 besloot men de waag over te brengen naar de grotere H. Geestkapel, die inmiddels niet meer in gebruik was voor de godsdienstige activiteiten.

Op de gevel van de Waag staat de volgende spreuk: "SPQA (Senatus Populusque Alcmariensis) RESTITVIT VIRTVS ABLATAE JVRA BILANCIS". Dit betekent ongeveer: "Moed en kracht schonken regering en burgerij van Alkmaar het verloren waagrecht terug". Door heldhaftig optreden van de bevolking van Alkmaar tijdens het ontzet van 8 oktober 1573 schonk de geestelijke macht de Waag terug aan de burgerij van Alkmaar.

The Waag building is a National monument (Rijksmonument) listed building on the Waagplein in Alkmaar in the Netherlands. On this square Waagplein every Friday from April till the second week of September, the famous cheese market is held. The Dutch Cheese Museum and the tourist information Office (VVV) are also in the building. In the tower is a famous carillon weekly played by a carilloneur and also automatically by a drum chiming the quarters of the hour. There is also the famous automatic horse with knights play in the tower with an automatic trumpetplayer.

The Waag (balance scale) building has an interesting history dating back to the 14th century. In that period it was built as a chapel for the adjacent Holy Spirit hospital where poor travelers could get free accommodation for three days and nights. Also the sick were nursed in this hospital. In 1566 the Bishop of Haarlem gave permission to the Holy Spirit hospital to re-purpose the hospital building for weighing. In 1582, the weighing activities were moved to the larger Holy Spirit Chapel, which by then was no longer being used for divine services. 

The weekly cheese market is held near the weighing building, where Edam and Gouda cheeses were traditionally sold. Today, the cheese market is a show put on for tourists from around the world, rather than an active center of trade in cheese. For the tourists there is also other merchandise for sale on the market along the nearby canal called Mient. 

Atop the façade of the building is the Latin proverb: "SPQA RESTITVIT VIRTVS ABLATAE JVRA BILANCIS". This means : SPQA (Senatus PopulusQue Alkmaris - Council and People of Alkmaar) by virtue of its courage and strength, restored the rights to the balance to the people and government of Alkmaar." This refers to a battle against Spanish Roman Catholics, which, upon the truce of October 8, 1573, established the rights of the citizens to have a weigh house.

(Wikipedia)

Taken in: Holland / North Holland / Alkmaar (show map)

Taken on: December 25, 2020

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Camera: Canon EOS 80D, f/7.1, 1/125 sec, 34mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 80D
Aperture:	f/7.1
Exposure Time:	0.008 sec (1/125)
Focal Length:	34mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	+0.201 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Manual
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	PhotoScape
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