This is the Waag in Alkmaar, seen from the White Bridge in the old town centre. A Waag is a Dutch word for balance scale. Located on Waagplein, the Waag was originally a chapel of the adjacent H. Geestgasthuis in the 15th century. In the 16th, the chapel was converted into a weighing house and was completed in 1583. Between 1597 and 1603, the current waagtower was erected. The Waag overlooks the Waagplein, where the Cheese Market takes place on Friday mornings from 10am to 1pm in the summer. This is traditional folklore to show the bond of cheese with Alkmaar. Nowadays, the Waag also houses the VVV tourist office and the Cheese Museum.
The picture shows the Waag from the White Bridge that lies over the Zijdam. There was no wind, the water of the Zijdam was mirror-smooth so the Waag reflected beautifully in it. So then you have two Waags for the price of one!
The Waag has been a national monument since 1969.
Hi there! Nice seeing you here! I'm Jan vd Knaap, a photographer in Utrecht. I normally deal with portrait photography, for humans and animals, and I give workshops to get the most out of the camera. But in the meantime, I fill my account here.. Read more…