t The charming houses of Begijnhof
t The charming houses of Begijnhof
Experience Nieuwe Zijde
The western side of medieval Amsterdam was known as the Nieuwe Zijde (New Side). Together with the Oude Zijde it formed the heart of the early maritime settlement. As Amsterdam grew, it expanded eastwards, leaving large sections of the Nieuwe Zijde neglected and in decline. With its many wooden houses, the city was prone to fires and in 1452 much of the area was burnt down. Surprisingly, this event reinvigorated the Nieuwe Zijde. During rebuilding, a broad moat, the Singel, was cut, attracting the nouveaux riches to the area. Warehouses, rich merchants’ homes and fine quays sprang up where once there was poverty.
The area was also rejuvenated during this period by the Miracle of Amsterdam. At a house on Kalverstraat in 1345, a dying man regurgitated the Eucharist. Due to liturgical reasons, the sacramental bread was thrown onto a fire, but it would not burn and was retrieved from the ashes the following day. This event transformed the city into a place of pilgrimage and a chapel was built on the site, bringing commerce to the Nieuwe Zijde as worshippers passed through.