This woodcut shows a bird’s eye view of Amsterdam in 1544. The north is at the bottom of the painting. Amsterdam is shown as a walled city, situated in a waterlogged area at the mouth of the river Amstel. Churches, convents and city gates are the most striking buildings. In 1544 the city had a population of about 12,000. Cargo vessels dropped anchor outside the palissade in the IJ. The goods were then loaded onto lighters, which transported them along the Damrak to the centre of the city. On the Dam the goods were weighed and traded. Many boats were needed for Amsterdam’s carrying trade.