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๐๏ธPalace of Commerce takes you inside Amsterdamโs Royal Palace โ once the seat of the cityโs true rulers. In the seventeenth century, the Royal Palace was the eighth wonder of the world. Its central Citizenโs Hall reflects Amsterdamโs aspirations as a city of global significance, built on peace, justice, and pure economic strength. ๐ Watch…
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๐๏ธ Palace of Commerce takes you inside Amsterdamโs Royal Palace โ once the seat of the cityโs true rulers, whose actions had impact all over the world. In the seventeenth century, four powerful burgomasters governed a global empire from this very building. Backed by wealth, justice, and diplomacy, they shaped the Dutch Republic โ and…
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๐๏ธ Palace of Commerce takes you inside Amsterdamโs Royal Palace โ once the worldโs most glorious city hall! In the seventeenth century, it was a magnificent center of governance, justice, and global commerce. Our book uncovers the hidden stories behind its marble walls โ from merchant-regents to anonymous citizens. ๐ Watch the trailer and join…
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๐ As part of our research project on multilevel governance in medieval and early modern commercial cities, we are expanding our website with a series of short vignettes on the legal histories of key trading hubs. In each of these introductions we explore the organisation of urban governance in relation to the economy of the…
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๐ As part of our research project on multilevel governance in medieval and early modern commercial cities, we are expanding our website with a series of short vignettes on the legal histories of key trading hubs. In each of these introductions we explore the organisation of urban governance in relation to the economy of the…
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In his seminal work, Cities of Commerce, Oscar Gelderblom has famously argued that urban competition was the driving force behind economically efficient institutions.[1] This blog post examines the different competitive strategies developed by the โgreat skippersโ guildsโ through their admission requirements and further regulations in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Despite the crucial role of inland navigation,…
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๐ New Book: ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฒ. ๐๐บ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐บโ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ต ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐ Step inside one of Amsterdamโs most iconic buildings and discover its hidden past! ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ค๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ค๐ฆ unveils the fascinating history of the Royal Palace on Dam Square โ originally built as Amsterdamโs City Hall during the Dutch Golden Age. Far from todayโs serene marble halls, it…
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๐ As part of our research project on multilevel governance in medieval and early modern commercial cities, Maurits den Hollander and I are expanding our website with a series of short vignettes on the legal histories of key trading hubs. In each of these introductions we explore the organisation of urban governance in relation to…
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Wednesday 26 March 2025, our team, joined by dr. Niels Fieremans (Universiteit Gent), organised a panel as part of the European Social Science History Conference 2025 at Leiden University. Titled โUrban Professionals and Commerce in the Low Countries, c. 1400-1700โ, the panel united five papers focusing on various types of urban officials in cities of…
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The city of Amsterdam occupies a prominent role in our research. Two of our team members completed their PhD’s at the UvA, while both principal investigators used the city as case study for our own doctoral dissertations. Libraries have been written about the rise of the city on the Amstel as a global economic power.…