There are lots of people who dream of diamonds, learning more about them and seeing some marvellous works of expert diamond polishers at a close glance but not a lot of them get a chance to visit Amsterdam’s lovely ‘City of Diamonds’. Founded in 2007 by Ben Meier and conveniently located in Amsterdam’s Museumplein (Museum Square), right next to the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, the Diamond Museum, Amsterdam isn’t just a home of jewels or the city of diamonds, it is a jewel in its own right. Set up by Coster Diamonds, a 200-year-old diamond polishing and trading firm, the museum aims to be a centre of learning and exhibition for diamond enthusiasts. The Diamond Museum and her exhibitions play the role of enlightening visitors on how diamonds are created. They also show how humans developed their love and passion for diamonds and seek to explain how diamond not only became a symbol of wealth but started to be associated with beauty and power.
Filled with well-made replicas of famous and very expensive jewels (wedding and engagement rings, necklaces, armbands and chains etc.), Diamond Museum Amsterdam shows the history of human knowledge about diamonds, all the worlds most important stones, a complete collection of the world’s historical crowns decorated with diamonds, history of Amsterdam’s prestigious diamond industry, a unique influence diamonds had on fashion, the entertainment industry and on the lives of everyday people.
There are guided tours for couples, individuals and groups. There is also the possibility of special arrangement where visitors can hand over their personal requests to the museum staff.
