A walking notary in the eighteenth century
In the early eighteenth century, the daily image of a notary in Amsterdam was that of a man travelling through the city on foot, from house to house, pen and parchment in hand. Jan de Vicq, a notary at the time, started his practice in his parental home on the Fluwelen Burgwal and later moved to the Rokin and Keizersgracht. He was not a member of a family of notaries; his father and grandfather were silversmiths from Hamburg. De Vicq worked meticulously and consistently and often had the day, time and location recorded in his deeds, as well as whether he visited the client or vice versa. His clientele was diverse, from beer carriers to preachers and from jug makers to women on deathbeds. His working week had no fixed rest days; he was also active on weekends and at unusual times.
The notary as gatekeeper in modern times
In today’s era, the role of the notary has expanded considerably. Besides drawing up deeds and supervising transactions, the notary acts as a gatekeeper of the financial system. Under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Prevention) Act (Wwft), notaries are obliged to establish the identity of clients, investigate the origin of funds and report unusual transactions to the Unusual Transactions Disclosure Office (FIU-Netherlands). In addition, notaries must check that clients understand the consequences of what they sign, which is known as the belehrungsplicht or duty of care.
Accessibility and trust
Historically, notaries were an accessible figure for people from all walks of life. Even today, it is important that notaries remain accessible and approachable so that everyone can arrange their affairs properly, regardless of income or language level. Initiatives such as the social notarial office strive to maintain and strengthen this accessibility.
Digitization and the future of the notarial profession
With the rise of artificial intelligence and digitization, the notarial profession is changing. Standard deeds can be automated, increasing the notary’s added value even more in advice, guidance and strategic thinking. However, human judgement and personal guidance remain essential, especially in complex or sensitive matters.
A bridge between past and future
The notary has been an indispensable link in the legal and social life of Amsterdam for centuries. From the strolling notary Jan de Vicq in the eighteenth century to the modern gatekeeper who watches over financial integrity, the office moves with the times but remains rooted in trust, independence and accessibility.
Curious about the other blogs in this blog series Amsterdam’s Trading Culture, click here, or listen to the podcast series here.
