Grachtengordel in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe
Huis met de Kolommen
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House with the Columns
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 29, 2026
1. Huis met de Kolommen / House with the Columns Marker
In dit huis, in 1672 gebouwd, woonde en werkte tot 1690 Paulus Godin, bewindvoerder van de West-Indische Compagnie (WIC) en directeur van de Sociλteit van Suriname. In deze functies was hij verantwoordelijk voor het opkopen en verkopen van Afrikanen die tot slaven werden gemaakten vervoerd werden naar het Caribisch gebied, het vroegere West Indie.
Vandaag telt onze stad veel Amsterdammers van wie deze Afrikanen de voorouders zijn.
Slavenhandel en slavernij zijn misdaden tegen de menselijkheid
De tekst van deze plaquette is op initiatief van het Gemeentebestuur opgesteld op 23 augustus 2004, door de UNESCO uitgeroepen tot Internationale dag van de herdenking van de slavenhandel en de afschaffing ervan.
As long as the memory lives, the suffering was not in vain.
In this house, built in 1672, Paulus Godin, administrator of the West India Company (WIC) and director of the Society of Suriname, lived and worked until 1690. In these positions, he was responsible for buying and selling Africans who were enslaved and transported to the Caribbean, the former West Indies.
Today, our city has many Amsterdammers whose ancestors are these Africans.
The slave trade and slavery are crimes against humanity.
The text on this plaque was drafted at the initiative of the Municipal Government on August 23, 2004, declared by UNESCO as the International Day of Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.
Erected 2004
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1672.
Location. 52° 21.893′ N, 4° 53.605′ E. Marker is in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland (North Holland). It is in Grachtengordel. It is on Herengracht, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Herengracht 502, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland 1017 BW, Netherlands. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Benelux Low Countries, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief / Amsterdam City Archives (within shouting distance of this marker); Ferdinand Bol (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); Dr. Evert Van Dieren (about 210 meters away); De Gevelsteen / The Gable Stone (approx. 0.3 kilometers away);
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 29, 2026
2. Huis met de Kolommen / House with the Columns Marker - wide view
Also see . . .
1. Huis met de Kolommen (Wikipedia, in Dutch). (Submitted on May 29, 2026.)
2. Paulus Godin (Wikipedia, in Dutch). Excerpt (in translation):
From 1675, Godin was involved in the Asiento, obtained by Balthasar and Josephus Coymans. The Asiento entailed delivering 4,000 slaves to the island of Curaηao every year for five years, consisting of 2/3 men and 1/3 women. In 1677, Manuel de Belmonte concluded an agreement with the Consulado de Sevilla on behalf of Paulus Godin, Marcus Broens, Jasper Pellicorne and Jeremias Noiret, directors of the WIC in Amsterdam, regarding the purchase of 1,600 to 1,800 slaves in stock on the island of Curaηao to be deployed in the Spanish West Indies(Submitted on May 29, 2026.)
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 29, 2026
3. Huis met de Kolommen / House with the Columns - wide view
The building was deeded to the City of Amsterdam in 1927 specifically to be used as the official residence of the citys mayor. It has since then been used as such, although not all of the mayors have actually resided there.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 29, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 29, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
