University Library

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  • Address
    Singel 421-425, Southern Canal Belt
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  • Phone
    525 23 01
  • - 17:00

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Lonely Planet review

Today's library is a concrete hulk, not nearly the beautiful building you'd expect from such an historic site, but its background is fascinating. Citizens' militias used to meet here: the 'hand-bow' (handboog) militia in No 421, and the 'foot-bow' (voetboog) militia in No 425, which also served as headquarters for the West India Company.

Now you know where the names of the nearby streets Handboogstraat and Voetboogstraat come from. Their firing ranges at the back reached to Kalverstraat.