Oost-Indisch Huis

The Oost-Indisch Huis is the former administrative center of the Dutch East India Company located on Kloveniersburgwal 48. The facade displays red and white surfaces with Renaissance details, while the interior spans multiple floors containing offices and meeting chambers.

The building was constructed in 1606 and served as the center of the trading empire until the company dissolved in 1798. These two dates mark the beginning and end of an era when the Dutch dominated global commerce.

The grand assembly hall inside shows how leading merchants gathered to make decisions about trade routes and expeditions. The rooms give a sense of how these choices affected the daily lives of sailors and traders around the world.

The location is centrally placed on Kloveniersburgwal in the old city center and is easy to reach on foot. Today the building is used by the University of Amsterdam, so visits may be limited depending on university events.

The building was more than just an office; it also functioned as a stock exchange where shares of the company were traded. This made it the center of a financial revolution that anticipated modern capitalism.