Accijnshuis te Amsterdam 1794 - 1795

Johan Christoffel Schultz created this print of the Accijnshuis in Amsterdam in the late 18th century. It depicts the city's excise house, where taxes were collected on goods entering Amsterdam. The image presents a seemingly straightforward view of the building, but consider what it leaves out. The armed guards and laborers suggest the enforcement and economic activity central to the excise house's function. The prominent display of Amsterdam's coat of arms asserts civic authority. Made during the Dutch Republic, the print reflects the era's commercial power and the institutions that sustained it. Prints like these served a public role, visually representing the structures of governance and trade. To fully understand this image, we can explore municipal archives, economic histories, and studies of Dutch visual culture. Only through historical context can we grasp the social meanings embedded in this representation of Amsterdam's excise house.