De Waag, Leiden

The construction of De Waag (Weigh House) began around 1657 and the grand opening was in 1659. The whole process was conducted by Pieter Post, the main designer. The venue has been an important place for many centuries, as it served as a weigh house for the merchants, and also a venue where they could trade their goods. An interesting fact is that De Waag was not only a weigh house, but at times the attic room was also transformed into an autopsy room. In 1972, when the last unit of cheese was sold, De Waag stopped its primary mission. Nowadays, the building serves as a cultural monument, has a gallery and sometimes hosts important ceremonies.