In the 17th century, ships used to sail from the IJ down Geldersekade to the Nieuw
markt (New Market) to take on board new anchors or load and unload produce. (Nobody adds the world plein or 'square'to the name, which is confusing because the whole neighbourhood to the east and southeast is also known as Nieuwmarkt.)
The Nieuwmarkt's imposing Waag (Weigh House) dates from 1488, when it was known as St Anthoniespoort (St Anthony's Gate) and formed part of the city fortifications. A century later the city had expanded farther east and the gate lost its original function.
A section of Kloveniersburgwal was filled in to create the St Anthoniesmarkt (now the Nieuwmarkt). The central courtyard of the gate was covered and it became the city weigh house the one on the Dam had become too small. Guilds occupied the upper floor, including the surgeons' guild who commissioned Rembrandt to paint The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Tulp (displayed in the Mauritshuis in The Hague) and added the octagonal central tower in 1691 to house their new Anatomical Theatre.
Public executions took place at the Waag from the early 19th century, after Louis
