Jan Willem Oudhof and Leo van der Laan on De Waag
1 February
A retrospective on the 2022 archaeological research at Waagplein and De Waag.
In 2022, archaeological excavations beside the current Waag (a public building where goods were officially weighed for trade) uncovered a stone floor laid in a distinctive pattern, originating from an earlier weigh house in Leeuwarden. These historic stones are temporarily on display at the Historisch Centrum Leeuwarden. During this lecture, one of the volunteers involved will look back on their experiences during the archaeological research.
Archaeologist Jan Willem Oudhof places Leeuwarden’s Waag in a broader context by comparing it with other weigh houses in the Netherlands. Heritage specialist Leo van der Laan focuses on a remarkable discovery next to the old Waag: heavy foundation beams from a city crane that once stood there. He explains their makers, as well as their function and significance within urban life.