It was located in the harbour near the warehouses of the Dutch West India Company, and was initially a basic building.

[1] In January 1821, a fire consumed a large part of the city centre including de Waag[5] An architectural competition was organized to rebuild the building.

[1] Willem de Vroome was the architect in charge of the rebuilding,[2] and in 1824, the current building was completed.

[6] The Waag has been constructed with plastered brick,[6] and is one of the few historic buildings in the centre not made out of wood.

[1] Inside the building is a wide open space supported by four massive columns,[6] allowing the merchants to arrive with horse and carriage.