Welcome to number 502, the imposing official residence of the mayor of Amsterdam. The stately building with no fewer than 45 rooms was built in 1667 for Paulus Godin, a trustee of the West India Company and also a slave trader. The house, also known as the house with the columns, takes its name from the impressive colonnade that adorns the façade. Since 1926, the house has been owned by the municipality of Amsterdam and serves as the mayor's official residence. The mayor's living quarters are on the third and fourth floors, while the ground and beletage floors have a representative function for the municipality.
While the house has an important place in Amsterdam's history, it also has a not-so-glorious past. Namely, it was financed with money from the slave trade. In order not to forget this history, a memorial stone has been placed next to the front door since 2006 with the text: "As long as the memory lives, the suffering is not in vain."
Despite this fraught past, the house is still a landmark in the heart of the city and is home to the current mayor of Amsterdam. Feel free to stroll past the property and discover more about its special history.
Sources. Story: amsterdam.nl Photos: Source photo's: Stadsarchief Amsterdam
