The arrival of the Russian embassy in Amsterdam, 29 August 1697, by Abraham Storck, c. 1700. Before travelling to The Hague, the Russian embassy visited Amsterdam. The city's merchants, who traded with Russia, spared no expense, welcoming the ambassadors with pomp and pageant. A firework display lit up the sky from a thirteen-metre high construction floating on two barges on the Amstel. The building on the left is the Kloveniersdoelen (Arquebusiers hall). Here the Russian embassy was treated to a banquet by the city council.