House with the Heads

The House with the Heads is a large canal house, named after the six ornaments shaped as heads, which are on the facade. nNowadays the building is home to the Embassy of The Free Mind, a museum and platform for culture, music, art, science and spirituality. The house was built in 1622 for Nicolaas Sohier, a wealthy stock trader and art lover. As for the heads in the facade, there is a legend that they refer to six thieves who had tried to break in the house and were then beheaded by the maid. However, the ornaments are said to be images of six roman gods: Apollo with the laurel wreath (the arts); Ceres with the grain (agriculture); Mercury with the winged helmet (trade); Minerva (wisdom); Bacchus with the grapes (wine); and Diana with the half moon (hunt).