The Association of Notary Publics in the city of The Hague were the first in the Netherlands to establish the 'Venduehuis der Notarissen'. This occurred in September 1811. In January 1812 the first auction was held in the present building in the Nobelstraat. The Auction house is now - and always has been - owned by the Association of Notary Publics in The Hague.
Building
The Venduehuis in the Nobelstraat is established in the former residence of the Mayor of The Hague. The name of the street can be found on a 15th-century city street map and takes its name from the noble and aristocratic families who lived there during that period. Amongst them were various mayors, father and son Christiaan and Constantijn Huygens, famous astronomers and mathematicians.
Over the years, several construction works have taken place, and the building has been expanded. Adjacent buildings were bought; a courtyard in between two houses has been roofed in. Unlike many other buildings in The Hague, the house did not suffer during World War II; but soon after the war a major renovation was necessary. In 1993 a second and radical renovation which took 5 years was completed. This is the present state of the building.
