Diamond Museum

In the 1500s, many diamond workers fleeing persecution elsewhere in Europe (but particularly Jewish diamond workers fleeing the Spanish Empire) settled in the city of Amsterdam. The new arrivals went on to establish a diamond industry in the city, and Amsterdam has since maintained a reputation as a major center for the diamond trade. The Diamond Museum (or “Diamant Museum” in Dutch) was established in 2007 by Ben Meier, who at the time was the owner of Royal Coster Diamonds, to present the history of the diamond trade both within the Netherlands and worldwide.

The museum displays are located on the two floors above the gift shop on the ground floor. The first floor provides an introduction to the geological background of diamond deposits, the history of how diamonds were mined and used by various cultures (while unfortunately skipping over the exploitational aspects of the diamond trade), and an overview of how diamonds are cut and polished.  Several display cases also exhibit replica diamonds, including one featuring replicas of the world’s largest cut diamonds.

The second floor features some of the museum’s most audacious jewelry and diamond displays as well as a room filled with various replica crowns that discusses how they have been used in various contexts throughout history.  However, the highlight of the museum’s collection is the Diamond Ape Skull. This work, as well as the other unusual masterpieces, make the Diamond Museum a truly unforgettable place to visit.