Waag, Deventer, Historic weighing house on Brink square in Deventer, Netherlands.
Waag in Deventer is a stone building with three floors, a stepped gable and a clock that rises in the center of Brink square. The structure shows Renaissance features and is topped by three turrets that make the marketplace building visible from all sides of the square.
Construction of this building began in 1528 to control trade activities and standardize weights, as Deventer was an important trading hub. The building became a central point where merchants and craftspeople had their goods checked during local market times.
The name Waag refers to the old scales that controlled goods here and ensured trust between buyers and sellers. The copper cauldrons on the walls remind visitors of serious punishments for those who cheated, showing how much fair trade mattered in this time.
The building is located directly on Brink square in the city center and is easy to reach on foot. The interior access and the exhibition are equally accessible, and visitors should allow time to explore all levels.
The building tilts noticeably to one side because the ground beneath it, where an old rampart once stood, has settled over time. This visible lean tells the story of how difficult it was to build on unstable soil.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
