Lastage
| Lastage | |
|---|---|
| Neighbourhood of Amsterdam | |
 |
|
| Country |
 Netherlands
|
| Province |
 North Holland
|
| COROP | Amsterdam |
| Borough | Centrum |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
Lastage is a neighbourhood in the Centrum district of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. It is located between the Geldersekade and Oudeschans canals, just east of old medieval city. Today, the neighbourhood is also known as Nieuwmarktbuurt. The area is protected as a heritage site.
In the 16th century, the marshy land east of the city developed into an industrial and port area of Amsterdam. Halfway through the 16th century, five ropewalks, some ship's mast factories, and a few shipyards for the caulking and repairing of ships were established here. Due to the location of the area outside the city wall, taxes were much lower and spatial planning regulations were much less strict. The adjacent bend in the IJ inlet called Waal was shallow, which, although unsuitable for merchant vessels, was ideal for docking ships in winter.
During the Guelderian Wars, the area came under threat several times by the troops of Charles of Guelders. When the nearby towns of Weesp and Muiden came under Charles' occupation in the spring of 1508, the city of Amsterdam burnt the area down as a precautionary measure. In December 1512, it was burnt down again, this time at the hands of the Guelders troops.
The name Lastage derives from the various ship's ballast-related activities that took place here (ballasten, ontlasten and belasten). Near the Schreierstoren on the quay along the IJ, a crane was built to lift cargo, masts and anchors. A ditch was dug between Montelbaansgracht and Geldersekade around 1530, and was named Rechtboomssloot after Cornelis P. Boom, one of the landowners in the area. The old stream that ran through the Lastage was named Kromboomssloot. Local residents' proposals in 1543 and 1548 to incorporate Lastage into the city were not accepted, despite efforts made by a delegation sent to the Great Council of Mechelen, who brought along a painting of the area by Cornelis Anthonisz. illustrating the local situation. In 1550 there were already 550 houses outside the city walls. In 1564, the residents, backed by the vogt, urged the city government once more to expand the city. Due to the activities in the area posing a potential fire hazard, the city government denied the plea again.
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