Boas – diamond factory
Nieuwe Uilenburgerstr. 173-175
The building that once housed the Boas diamond factory, at 173 to 175 Nieuwe Uilenburgerstraat is a monument to the Jewish diamond industry. This flourished in the 19th century, becoming one of the city's major industries. Traditionally, many Jews worked in the diamond trade because before the granting of civil equality in 1796, Jews were unable to become members of the trade guilds; the diamond industry, however, wasn't controlled by the guilds and was thus open to Jews. The so-called Cape Period (1870-1880, when new diamond mines were exploited in South Africa) proved a time of great prosperity in the Amsterdam diamond industry.
The factory owned by the Boas brothers on Nieuwe Keizersgracht burst its seams and in 1879 the company opened in new premises on Nieuwe Uilenburgerstraat. This was then Amsterdam's largest diamond factory, with 357 polishers, 122 setters, 142 apprentices and 52 errand boys. But working conditions in this factory weren't ideal either. In 1894 there was a major strike by the diamond workers, leading to the founding of the Diamond Worker's trade union, the ANDB.
In the 1930s the industry was hit by the great Depression. Many diamond workers moved to Antwerp to try their luck there. During World War II the factory was taken over by the Germans and then shut down. Not until the end of the 20th century would the building regain its former function: then Samuel Gassan, a Jewish diamond dealer, took over the premises. Although there are still some cutters and polishers working at Gassan's, the business is mainly selling cut diamonds, chiefly to foreign tourists.
Collectie en mediatheek
Standwerker tussen zijn publiek op de Houtkopersburgwal
1934-1935
Standwerker(midd.) temidden van publiek bij brug 291, gezien naar Nieuwe
Uilenburgerstraat 173/758, rechts in deze straat de gebouwen van de ...
Collectie > Museumstukken > 02464
[Auto's in de Jodenhouttuinen]
1955-1962
Braakliggend terrein met auto's in de Jodenhouttuinen. Links achter het gebouw van
een diamantslijperij op de Uilenburg (Boas). Rechtsachter een steeg door verdwenen ...
Collectie > Museumstukken > 03459
Overzichtsfoto
2001 (ca.)
Gassan Diamonds (in het Boasgebouw) aan de
Uilenburgerstraat, gezien vanaf het Rapenburg.
Collectie > Fotos > 40009639
Overzichtsfoto
1939 (ca.)
Overzichtsfoto van de Houtkopersburgwal met op de
achtergrond het Boasgebouw, circa 1939.
Collectie > Fotos > 40005914
De diamant terug op Uilenburg : Gassan in gebouw Uilenburg
1990
De diamant terug op Uilenburg : Gassan in gebouw Uilenburg.
Collectie > Literatuur > 11000687
