Amsterdam and the diamonds

Amsterdam has a reputation as one of the most important diamond cities in Europe. The history of diamonds in Amsterdam is rich and this is mainly thanks to the city’s Jewish population.

Through the arrival of Jews from Portugal, among others, around 1600 Amsterdam came into contact with diamonds. It soon became the diamond center of Europe. These Jewish immigrants had experience in the trade of diamonds and processed them at home, which was seen as an established part of the market.

When in 1727 a large quantity of diamonds was found in Brazil, which was then still a Portuguese colony, the Dutch could arrange it so that all the production could only be sold to Dutch traders.

After this period, the European monarchs began to get more interested in obtaining ornamental diamonds and this led to a revival in the diamond industry and in the demand for diamonds from Amsterdam.

Until about 1820, diamonds were generally processed at home. In 1822 diamond workers began to design machines that could do the grinding in a factory setting using, for example, horse-driven mechanisms.

This development increased the capacity enormously. In 1840 they began to use steam power to produce even more. Because of these developments the Diamantslijperij-Maatschappij (Diamond Cutter’s Society) was founded in Amsterdam, which had a monopoly until 1873. After the war, the diamond industry never regained its former importance. Nowadays in Amsterdam you will mainly fine specialty jewelers, such as The Mill Diamonds.

For four centuries, Amsterdam has been known as the ‘City of Diamonds‘. Visit ‘Gassan Diamonds‘ diamond factory, once a working steam factory, and take a free guided tour of the diamond cutting factory. Discover the diamond cutting process and admire the world-famous Amsterdam diamonds, perhaps a perfect memento of your visit. Address: Nieuwe IJlenburgerstraat 173-175 (Google Maps), www.gassan.com

The Diamond Museum Amsterdam offers insight into diamond mining, cutting and processing. The museum displays several famous diamonds, including the smallest diamond in the world, which can be admired through a microscope.

In addition, visitors get information about the diamond city in Amsterdam, where diamonds have been processed and traded for over four centuries. Address: Paulus Potterstraat 8 (Google Maps), www.diamondmuseum.com, open/ prices: See website