Frederiksplein met Paleis voor Volksvlijt

The Amsterdam doctor and property developer Samuel Sarphati (1813-1866) founded the Association for Volksvlijt, or artisanal and industrial skills. It was Sarphati's idea to construct an enormous exhibition building to be known as the Paleis voor Volksvlijt, the palace of national industry. This industrial palace was designed by Cornelis van Outshoorn (1812-1875) and opened in 1864. The building was innovative, a daring construction of glass and metal inspired by London's Crystal Palace, which had been built for the 1851 World Fair. The Amsterdam palace was used for exhibitions, concerts and plays. Believed to be inflammable, it nevertheless burnt down completely in 1929.

Frederiksplein met Paleis voor Volksvlijt

The Amsterdam doctor and property developer Samuel Sarphati (1813-1866) founded the Association for Volksvlijt, or artisanal and industrial skills. It was Sarphati's idea to construct an enormous exhibition building to be known as the Paleis voor Volksvlijt, the palace of national industry. This industrial palace was designed by Cornelis van Outshoorn (1812-1875) and opened in 1864. The building was innovative, a daring construction of glass and metal inspired by London's Crystal Palace, which had been built for the 1851 World Fair. The Amsterdam palace was used for exhibitions, concerts and plays. Believed to be inflammable, it nevertheless burnt down completely in 1929.