At 90 Warmoesstraat in Amsterdam, there is a building that is easy to pass by. Its facade suggests it is an ordinary 19th-century building. But behind that exterior hides the oldest preserved residential house in the city.
A discovery after a fire
"It doesn't look anything special from the outside," Bob Maas explains, "but inside it's a different story."
A few years ago on Sunday morning, a fire broke out in the building, which is now a gay club. The fire brigade quickly got the fire under control, but discovered something remarkable: the wooden beams on the ceiling showed beautiful medieval curls.
"The firefighters immediately thought: this is not a standard construction," says Bob. Monuments and archaeologists were called in to examine the wood.
Wood from the 15th century
Carbon dating determined the age of the beams: around 1480. This confirmed that both the wooden construction and the outer walls date from the 15th century. This makes Warmoesstraat 90 officially the oldest preserved house in Amsterdam.
No longer a residential house, but a piece of history
Although the building has long since ceased to be a residence, it still tells the story of medieval Amsterdam. The combination of a 19th-century facade and a 15th-century core makes the building unique.
In the previous episode, Bob told us about the electricity station on Bloedstraat, so in the middle of the city. Another piece of hidden history in the heart of Amsterdam. Curious? Take a look here!
