The house on Keizersgracht 268 owes its name to the golden chain on the facade. Not simply any previous chain, either. numerous stories do the rounds on the chain’s origins. One story has it that the owner of the canal house couldn't notice her gold chain one ill-fated day. She accused her maid of stealing it. When the chain was found it had been remained the gable as proof of the maid’s innocence.
According to another story the maid was home alone one night. She killed a burglar, disguised as an previous lady, who forced his means into the house. Alas, his 5 o’clock shadow gave him away! Her boss gave the maid a gold chain as a token of his appreciation. When the maid wasn't happy with this, she was chased away. The owner of the house hung the chain on top of the door to publicly vent his indignation regarding his maid’s ingratitude.
This third story is possibly the proper one. In 1620 the owner of the house, Eliseus Harrel, had a cargo of worsted transported from Aachen to Amsterdam. Robbers held up the transport en route. just one bale reached Amsterdam. As a reminder, the owner had the chain that held the bale along gilded. He hung it on his gable as an adornment. In 1991 the house collapsed whereas being renovated, however has since been rebuilt. The gold chain is back in place as if nothing is going on.
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