Handboogdoelen, Amsterdam

It dates back to the early 16th century and originally served as headquarters and shooting range of the local schutterij (civic guard).

Most of the current building at Singel 421 dates to the 18th century and is part of the main complex of the Amsterdam University Library.

[2] The Handboogdoelen was established shortly before 1500 as the shooting range for the handboogschutterij (longbowmen's civic guard), and the associated building was completed around 1512.

Like the adjacent Voetboogdoelen (established in 1458), the shooting range extended from the Singel canal to the back side of the houses on Kalverstraat.

The civic guard continued to exist, but membership became an honorary position and the doelens assumed a primarily social function.

In the late 17th century, the inn was expanded with additional rooms and halls by adding another floor to the building and connecting it to the adjacent house.

Members of the civic guard, drawn from the well-to-do of Amsterdam, frequently commissioned group portraits of themselves, which were hung in the doelens.

For instance, Jan Tengnagel in 1613 painted a rot (section) of 17 members of the handboogschutterij (longbowmens' civic guard) under the command of Geurt van Beuningen.

The Handboogdoelen was one of three doelens (shooting ranges) for the Amsterdam civic guard, alongside the Voetboogdoelen and Kloveniersdoelen, which were located along Heiligeweg and Kloveniersburgwal canal respectively.