Makelaers Comptoir

The Makelaers Comptoir or (in modern Dutch spelling) Makelaarskantoor, the "brokers' office", is a 17th-century guildhall in Amsterdam, at the corner of Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal and the alley Nieuwe Nieuwstraat.

These brokers served as intermediaries between buyers and sellers trading in coffee, tobacco, grain and other goods that were brought to Amsterdam from all corners of the world during the Dutch Golden Age.

The brokers' guild was founded in 1612 and had its headquarters in the former home of a spice trader called Hendrick Opmeer.

In 1937, however, the original situation was restored, although the Latin inscription Soli Deo Gloria over the front door was replaced with Vrijheid is voor geen geld te koop ("liberty is not for sale at any price").

In 2002, the building was sold to the historic preservation society Vereniging Hendrick de Keyser [nl] at the symbolic price of 1 euro.

The voorhuis (front part of the house), with its checkered black-and-white marble floor, is considered the best-preserved in Amsterdam.

Makelaers Comptoir
Entrance
The Makelaers Comptoir in the 19th century. Note the clock gable and the canal, which had not been filled in yet
The Makelaers Comptoir, photo taken between 1884 and 1903, shortly after the canal was filled in. Note the clock gable.