Het optrekken van de burgerwacht op de Dam

Once a year, during the annual fair, the civic guardsmen marched across Dam Square to display their weaponry to the people of Amsterdam. The city had so many people under arms in the 17th century that the parade was spread over several days. In the summer, there were processions every Sunday, and they made a huge noise. So much noise in fact that the board of the neighbouring Nieuwe Kerk complained to the burgomasters that it was impossible to hear the preacher above the sound of gunfire.

Het optrekken van de burgerwacht op de Dam

Once a year, during the annual fair, the civic guardsmen marched across Dam Square to display their weaponry to the people of Amsterdam. The city had so many people under arms in the 17th century that the parade was spread over several days. In the summer, there were processions every Sunday, and they made a huge noise. So much noise in fact that the board of the neighbouring Nieuwe Kerk complained to the burgomasters that it was impossible to hear the preacher above the sound of gunfire.