Korendragers- en -stortersgilde van Amsterdam, gildepenning van Jan Arens Adel van hier 1677

This is a guild badge of Jan Arens Adel, from the Amsterdam grain carriers and porters guild. These guilds played a vital role in Amsterdam's economic and social life, wielding considerable influence over trade and labor. As such, the badges were more than mere identifiers; they were symbols of belonging and professional pride. Consider that the labor performed by these workers was essential to Amsterdam’s thriving economy. The image shows how their work contributed to the city’s prosperity, yet they themselves remained largely unacknowledged. Badges such as these provided them with a sense of identity and solidarity. They also served as tangible markers of their status within the guild. This simple object speaks volumes about the lives and contributions of the working class in a bygone era, reflecting both the dignity and the anonymity of labor.