Waag, Former weigh house at Waterkant, Paramaribo, Suriname.
The Waag is a two-story brick building at Waterkant in Paramaribo featuring four interior columns and two large piers extending toward the Suriname River. The structure now contains a restaurant on the ground floor and serves as a gathering place for the local community in the city center.
The building was constructed in 1686 as a weighing station for standardizing goods and taxation during the colonial period. After a fire destroyed it in 1821, it was rebuilt in 1824 under the direction of architect Willem de Vroome.
The building displays Dutch colonial design and is recognized as part of Paramaribo's UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can observe the craftsmanship and historical context of the city reflected in its architectural style.
The building is easy to locate at Waterkant in central Paramaribo and remains clearly visible from outside. Access is straightforward, and visitors can explore the structure from outside or visit the restaurant located in the ground-floor spaces.
The building's interior features massive columns large enough to allow horse-drawn carriages to enter for weighing merchandise. This unusual design reveals how central commerce and transport were to colonial economic life.
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