The monumental red brick building with a clock tower is the Beurs van Berlage. Today, it serves as a venue for concerts, exhibitions, and major events. But once upon a time, this was where fortunes were made and lost—since 1903, it was Amsterdam’s main commodity exchange.
Before that, merchants roamed the city, striking deals in taverns and right on the streets. But by the late 19th century, it became clear that Amsterdam needed a proper exchange—one that was both grand and spacious. And so, the Beurs van Berlage was born, designed by the renowned architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage.
Cheese was traded here too! Not as extensively as in Gouda, Edam, or Alkmaar, but certainly on a grander scale than in the nearby Buttermilk Alley. You can easily imagine traders in this very building negotiating how many wheels of cheese would be shipped off to London or Hamburg.
Today, the exchange no longer echoes with the shouts of brokers, and its doors are open to everyone. It now hosts weddings, exhibitions, and even opera performances.
