Maria Martens (1689-1714)

Maria Martens was baptized 4 Feb 1689 in Amsterdam, daughter of Jacob Martens and Jannetje Hendriks. She is the first wife of Pieter Portilje (dutch link), my husband’s 1st cousin 8x removed. She married Pieter in 1705, and they have five children before her death in 1714.

At her death the record stated she was living “behind the big meat market, near the Fluweel Burgwal.” The burial records of both Pieter and his second wife indicate they were still living at the same address, at least still behind the meat market.

The Fluweelenburgwal was the original name for part of the “Oude Zijds Voorburg Wal,” one of the earliest canals in the center of Amsterdam. It was apparently named for the fact that many rich people “who wore velvet (fluweel)” lived there. What is now called the Old  Meatmarket (St. Pieters- of Grote Vleeshal) was build in 1779, and was located between the Nes and the Oude Zijds Voorburg Wal, in what is now the St. Pietershalsteeg; it was a continuation of the existing “big meatmarket.” A relief on the building shows a representation of the inspectors’ room at the market. It has been recently restored. (interesting: the market was originally the chapel of the St. Pieter’s cloister, hence the name). The building has been restored in 2014 (image of the building, and image of the three cows heads at the roof)