Today only a plaque reminds us of Rembrandt’s birth house in the Weddesteeg in Leiden, all the original buildings have been demolished. The bird's-eye view map by Pieter Bast (ca. 1550-1605) from 1600 shows Leiden as it looked around Rembrandt's birth. The Weddesteeg was just within the medieval city limits. Opposite the street was the city wall, with two mills. The southern one, closest to the ‘Witte Poort’, was that of Rembrandt's father.
He bought half of it from his stepfather in 1589, together with the right side of the mill house, roughly in the middle of the Weddesteeg. Built against the rear of the house was a newer but smaller dwelling. In 1600 Rembrandt's father inherits part of the left side of the mill house, as well as the house behind it. The houses gave home to several members of the family and it is believed that Rembrandt was born in the right side of the mill house as the ninth of ten children.
Pieter Bast, Lugdunum Batavorum. Leyden in Hollant (S.l., 1600), COLLBN 009-11-025.