The Dutch Diamond Trade: From Antwerp to Amsterdam

In this episode of The Story of the Netherlands, Lucas and Luna explore how a trickle of rough stones from India and Borneo became the glittering heart of Amsterdam's economy. They trace the diamond trade from the 16th century, when Sephardic Jewish merchants fleeing the Spanish Inquisition brought their skills to the low countries, through the establishment of the Amsterdam Diamond Bourse in the 17th century, and into the industrial age. Learn about the role of the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie in supplying rough diamonds, the rise of the diamond-cutting workshops in the Jodenbreestraat, the invention of the diamond saw by the van Moorsel family, and the global dominance of Amsterdam's diamond industry until World War II. The episode also touches on the darker side: the colonial extraction of diamonds from India and later South Africa, the monopolistic practices of the De Beers company, and the human cost of the trade. Along the way, Lucas brings in key figures like Isaac van Doorn, the founder of the Bourse, and the legendary cutter Abraham van der Wijk, who transformed rough gems into brilliant cuts. The conversation weaves together economic history, cultural heritage, and the very human stories behind the sparkle.

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