Vakbondsmuseum, Trade union museum in Amsterdam-Centrum, Netherlands
The Vakbondsmuseum is an office building with thick walls, a prominent tower, and stained glass windows designed by architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage. The structure combines red brick facades with rationalist forms and now houses exhibitions about labor history.
The building was erected in 1900 as the headquarters of the General Diamond Workers Union of the Netherlands. It marks the first office building in the country built specifically for a labor union and shows the growing power of these organizations.
The museum displays craftsmanship from various trades and Art Nouveau wall paintings depicting labor scenes. The rooms tell the story of social movements that shaped these workers' lives.
The museum is open on weekday and Sunday afternoons and sits centrally in Amsterdam. Visitors should note that the rooms are spread across multiple floors and stairs are needed to explore them.
The cellar holds original tools used by diamond cutters from the early industrial era, showing how precise and skilled this craft was. This collection preserves the material history of an entire trade.
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