Navigating the 17th century: without numbers, with character

Imagine this: you are walking through the Jordaan in 1650, looking for a friend. No house numbers, no maps, certainly no Google Maps. So how did people find homes back then? The answer is simple. They used what they saw.

Each house had a recognizable symbol in its façade, a black cat, a water pump, a milkmaid. You didn’t describe your address with a number, but with an image.
“I live in the Black Sheep, next to the Water Pump,” was completely normal.

Gable stones: the city’s first business cards

These stones were more than decoration. They revealed something about the resident’s profession, origin or identity.

A ship might indicate a merchant. A sheep could point to a wool trader. These symbols were essential in how people navigated the city and found each other.

In a way, they were Amsterdam’s first billboards, small works of art that showed who you were and what you did.

Better not move

There was one catch. If your neighbor, the baker, moved away, the stone with the bread basket stayed.

Everyone knew your home as “next to the baker,” so moving could cause confusion. It was often easier to stay put than to re-explain your location.

Directions in 1650

Asking for directions meant getting a story full of landmarks.

“Walk down the street where the bakery is on your right. Take the next street and look for the barber with the shaving brush. Turn left at the house with the lion. Three houses down, next to the ladder, that’s where we live.”

Basically, Google Maps before Google existed.

Heritage with a story

Today, these façade stones are valuable pieces of history. They tell stories about trade, religion and daily life.

You still see many of them in the Jordaan and along the canals, often beautifully restored.

There is even an association dedicated to preserving them, the Association of Friends of Amsterdam Facade Stones. They locate lost stones, restore old ones and keep this part of the city alive.

On their website, you can explore hundreds of stones, with photos and explanations. If you want to see Amsterdam differently, this is a great place to start.

Why this matters for living in Amsterdam

The charm of Amsterdam is in the details. Every building, every stone tells a story.

If you buy a home in the Jordaan today, you are literally living among centuries of history.

At Makelaar in Amsterdam, we do more than guide you through a transaction. We understand the city.

With over 17 years of experience, a 1% all-in fee and in-house photography, we present your home at its best and guide you every step of the way.

Discover your piece of Amsterdam

Whether you are looking for a canal house or a characterful apartment in the Jordaan, every home has its own story.

Feel free to get in touch for a personal consultation. Your place in Amsterdam might be closer than you think.