Stadsbank van Lening, Amsterdam
The Stadsbank van Lening is a not-for-profit city Bank van Lening dating from 1614 on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is the oldest credit distributor in Amsterdam and today has about 85 employees working here and in offices on the Albert Cuypstraat, Bijlmerplein and Osdorpplein.
History
The bank was built in 1614 as a conversion of an old warehouse used by the poorhouse O.Z. Huiszittenhuis that had been used to store turf for the inhabitants.[1] In 1658 the poet Joost van den Vondel became a clerk there. He worked a total of 10 years for the bank and his "bank chair" has been kept.[1]
Text above the doorway
Written by Balthazar Huydecoper in 1740:
Hebt gy noch geld, noch goed: gaa deze deur voorby. Have you not money, nor goods, pass this door by.
Hebt gy 't laatste, en mist gy 't eerste, kom by my. Have you the latter, and miss you the first, come to me.
Geef pand, ik geef u geld. waarom zoude ik u borgen? Give pawn, I give you money. Why should I support you?
Of is 't u niet genoeg dat gy van 't mynen teert? Or is it not enough that you live off me?
Maart eyst gey u pand terug, zo dient ge in tyds te zorgen, But if you demand your pawn back, you must take care in time,
Dat my myn hoofdsom, met de rente wederkeert. That you repay my sum, with interest.
Zo help ik u en my, en toon, aan de onderzoekers Thus I help you and me, and show the auditors
Van myn geheymen, 't graf des eervergeeten woekers. Of my secrets, the grave of the forgotten loansharks.
References
- Stadsbank van Lening 1614 - 1989. W.D. Voorthuysen. Stadsdrukkerij Amsterdam, 1989
External links
