The VOC warehouse of 1606 on Onder de Boompjes is evidence of the importance of Hoorn in the C17. The gradual silting of the harbour and the meteoric rise of Amsterdam reduced the little town's importance, turning it into a back- water in the space of a generation or two. There is a very similar pakhuis to this in Enkhuizen - the Peperhuis - further up the coast.

It is worth noting the distance this building is away from any dock. The value of the products it housed was so high it was thought better to have it located in an easily defended site.