EPISODE · Jun 1, 2026 · 7 MIN
The Dutch Diamond Polishing Industry: Cutting Through the Golden Age
from The Story of the Netherlands: Trade, Empire, and Innovation — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the lesser-known story of the Dutch diamond polishing industry, which transformed Amsterdam into the world's diamond capital during the 17th century. They trace the origins of diamond cutting from India to Antwerp and finally to Amsterdam, where Jewish and Protestant artisans perfected the art of faceting. The conversation covers the invention of the scaif (the polishing wheel) by Lodewijk van Berquem, the rise of the Amsterdam Diamond Exchange, and the role of Sephardic Jewish families like the Pereira and De Pinto in financing the trade. They discuss how diamonds were smuggled from Portuguese India, the brutal conditions for laborers in the diamond workshops, and the industry's decline in the 18th century due to competition from London and Antwerp. The episode also touches on the cultural significance of diamonds in Dutch portraiture and the enduring legacy of Amsterdam's diamond district, the Jodenbreestraat. Specific figures include Willem van Borselen, Jan van Eyck (who painted diamonds), and the diamond merchant Moses Salomon Asser. #DiamondPolishing #AmsterdamDiamondTrade #GoldenAgeNetherlands #Scaif #LodewijkvanBerquem #SephardicJews #Jodenbreestraat #DiamondExchange #VanEyck #PortugueseIndia #Smuggling #LaborHistory #DiamondDistrict #MosesSalomonAsser #EconomicHistory #NetherlandsHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
What this episode covers
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the lesser-known story of the Dutch diamond polishing industry, which transformed Amsterdam into the world's diamond capital during the 17th century. They trace the origins of diamond cutting from India to Antwerp and finally to Amsterdam, where Jewish and Protestant artisans perfected the art of faceting. The conversation covers the invention of the scaif (the polishing wheel) by Lodewijk van Berquem, the rise of the Amsterdam Diamond Exchange, and the role of Sephardic Jewish families like the Pereira and De Pinto in financing the trade. They discuss how diamonds were smuggled from Portuguese India, the brutal conditions for laborers in the diamond workshops, and the industry's decline in the 18th century due to competition from London and Antwerp. The episode also touches on the cultural significance of diamonds in Dutch portraiture and the enduring legacy of Amsterdam's diamond district, the Jodenbreestraat. Specific figures include Willem van Borselen, Jan van Eyck (who painted diamonds), and the diamond merchant Moses Salomon Asser. #DiamondPolishing #AmsterdamDiamondTrade #GoldenAgeNetherlands #Scaif #LodewijkvanBerquem #SephardicJews #Jodenbreestraat #DiamondExchange #VanEyck #PortugueseIndia #Smuggling #LaborHistory #DiamondDistrict #MosesSalomonAsser #EconomicHistory #NetherlandsHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Dutch Diamond Polishing Industry: Cutting Through the Golden Age
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