Nieuwmarkt

Nieuwmarkt is a historic public square in central Amsterdam’s De Wallen district, within the old city centre. It is best known for the presence of the Waag, a prominent building on the square’s corner that occupies the site of a former medieval city gate.

The square is lined with cafés, restaurants and small shops, and functions as a social hub for the neighbourhood; outdoor seating and terraces are common in warmer months. The Waag anchors the space and is frequently used for dining, exhibitions and events.

The site has been used as a market and meeting place since medieval times; the corner building began life as part of the city’s fortifications and later served as a weigh house and guildhall. The open-plan square developed as the surrounding urban fabric evolved through the early modern period.

Situated in Amsterdam’s central canal belt in the De Wallen neighbourhood, the square lies east of Dam Square and near Amsterdam’s Chinatown and several canals. It is accessible by the Nieuwmarkt metro station and by nearby tram stops.

• Waag: Built on the site of a late medieval city gate and later used as a weigh house and guildhall, the building is one of the square's main historic landmarks.
• Transport: Served directly by the Nieuwmarkt metro station on Amsterdam's metro network, with tram lines and central attractions within short walking distance.

What to See #

• Waag: Corner building dating to the late medieval period that occupies the former Sint Antoniespoort; it now houses cafés and cultural spaces and is a focal point on the square.