Locating the Birthplace of Rembrandt

Since Rembrandt's work was rediscovered in the late 1800s, numerous researchers have attempted to pinpoint the exact location of his birthplace. Ironically, it was during this same period that the last remaining parts of his birth house were destroyed. Today, the area bears little resemblance to its appearance in the early 17th century. In anticipation of the Rembrandt celebration of 2019, new research focused on reconstructing the appearance of his birthplace and the surrounding area. The first step in this process was to uncover where exactly the famous painter was born. Through the reanalysis of diverse historical sources, this objective was accomplished, leading to the realization that the present memorial stone is situated incorrectly.
Rembrandt was known to have been raised in a family of millers. The research revealed that the painter was born in 1606 in the Mill House, a property situated opposite the mill. The house with multiple additions accommodated several members of his family. Rembrandt's grandmother and step-grandfather purchased the property towards the end of the 16th century after they were forced to flee inside the city walls because of the upcoming Spanish siege in 1573.