The Fortress, building of the Diamond Union
Henri Polaklaan 9
The first successful general strike held by
Amsterdam diamond workers in 1894 led to the founding of a trade
union, known as the ANDB. (General Dutch Diamond Workers' Union).
The leaders were Henri Polak (1868-1943) and Jan van Zutphen
(1863-1958).
Polak, a trade-union man and social-democratic politician, was held in high esteem by the diamond workers. Jan van Zutphen was the driving force behind the Diamond Workers Copper Strips Fund (KSF), set up in 1905. This was a charitable organization, ensuring that waste copper strips and the odd cents donated by diamond cutters and polishers went to fund hospitals for ANDB members suffering from TB and other ailments.
The design of the building that was to become the Diamond Union's headquarters was contracted out to Dutch architect Berlage (1856-1934). Known as 'The Fortress' it stands at number 9 Henri Polaklaan and was opened in 1900. Berlage's design was inspired by Italian people's palaces and in 1904 further adorned with twelve murals in the large assembly room, by the Dutch painter R.N. Roland Holst.
It was under Polak, himself the occupant of The Bastion for almost 35 years, that the 8-hour working day was introduced. Inspired by the ideals of socialism, he aimed to raise the general living standards of the working class. The famous Dutch historian Jacques Presser (1899-1970) once wrote:
'My father was in every way a child of his time, which was full of optimism, with socialist politicians and trade-union leaders encouraging their disciples to imbibe art and science popularised for everyman. Amazing to think how this man, born in the depths of the Amsterdam slums, nurtured on the idealism of a figure like Trade Union chairman Henri Polak, and filled with profound admiration for and devotion to him, would go to exhibitions, concerts and plays, and buy the books recommended to him.'
After about 1920, Amsterdam had to yield its leading position in the world diamond trade to the city of Antwerp, in Belgium. The diamond industry and the trade union fell into gradual decline. In 1991 the Fortress took on a new lease of life as Amsterdam's Trade Union Museum.
Collectie en mediatheek
Vrije grafiek
1919
ANDB-gebouw voorgevel met trap en toren.
Collectie > Museumstukken > 07542
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Portretfoto
1920 (ca.)
Portretfoto van Simon de Vries, circa 1925.
Collectie > Fotos > 40000520
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Leerlingenkaart
1928-07-13
Op naam gestelde leerlingenkaart diamantbewerking, 1928.
Collectie > Documenten > 00000136
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[Binnenland] : Een zilveren feest.
1909
Verslag van een buitengewone algemene vergadering van aandeelhouders van de "Diamant
Slijperij Maatschappij" ter gelegenheid van het vijfentwintigjarig jubileum ...
Collectie > Joodse pers > 20066215
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Amsterdam diamond industry
1928 (??)
Amsterdam diamond industry.
Collectie > Literatuur > 11000230
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Zo was het
1988
Radio uitzending van de educatieve omroep RVU over joodse geschiedenis
in Nederland. De perioden 1900-1930 en 1930-1940.
Collectie > Audiovisueel > 10000198
