If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, then Amsterdam would be a girl’s favourite city. Rosie Khdir uncovers the history behind the dazzling gem trade in Holland’s capital.

A kiss on the hand maybe quite continental…and so are diamonds! Amsterdam is heaving with shops, cutting factories and specialists just waiting to put that sparkle in your eye.

Amsterdam has been at the heart of the diamond trade for over four centuries and is still flourishing today. The first diamond polisher was entered into the Amsterdam Civil Register in 1586 but it is also said that it was Jewish settlers moving to the city to flee the Spanish Inquisition, who brought the trade with them. The industry then boomed during the seventeenth century with the discovery of diamonds in the Dutch colonies of Southern Africa.

The diamond business was greatly damaged by the Nazi’s attempted elimination of the Jewish community when more than 2,000 diamond polishers were sent to concentration camps. After the war, however, the trade began to pick up again as outside merchants and buyers tapped into Amsterdam’s great resource.

Nowadays the diamond business is peaking again, with tourists flooding to the city to get their share. There are many world renowned shops in the capital as well as specialists who give demonstrations of diamond cutting and teach visitors how to assess their worth.

If you fancy purchasing a rock of your very own then visit the Amsterdam Diamond Centre where you can enjoy a tour and browse over some of the finest jewellery in the country.

For a visit with more of a history try Coster Diamonds which dates back to 1840. This museum is one of the most popular in the city and was where the famous “Koh-i-Noor” diamond was polished ready for the British Crown Jewels in 1852. At the time this was the largest recorded diamond in the world.

A trip to the Diamant Museum is also a great way to discover more about those twinkling gems. You’ll be taken back 3 billion years, thousands of kilometres below the earth’s surface to find out the origin of the diamond. You can also observe the many wonders in the collections, including the smallest brilliant diamond in the world and a diamond encrusted sword.

Whether you are looking for a special piece of jewellery or just a treat for yourself or loved one, Amsterdam, the City of Diamonds, is the place to go.

——————————

Image credit: stephend9

Tags: History, Lifestyle, Netherlands // Add Comment »