Wall Street in 1611

The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, built in 1611, was the Republic’s most important trading market, handling goods from all over the globe, each with a set place in the arcade gallery. In addition, the Amsterdam exchange was also the first stock exchange. Soon after the VOC, the Dutch East India Company, had been established its shares were traded there. The traders reflect the exchange’s international character. Besides the many Dutch in the courtyard there are three Turkish merchants and, on the extreme right, a broker who is probably from Russia.