Gezicht op het Entrepotdok in Amsterdam 1860 - 1885

Pieter Oosterhuis made this photograph of the Entrepotdok in Amsterdam using a stereoscope. The Entrepotdok was constructed in 1827 to serve as a place where goods could be transferred without import duties. In the 19th century, Amsterdam was a center of global trade, and photographs like this served to document the city's economic and cultural importance. Note the impressive ships that populate the background. They testify to the robust global trade connections of the Netherlands in this era. The neat, orderly architecture and the calm waters of the dock suggest a sense of control and prosperity, reflecting the values of the Dutch merchant class. Historians consult city archives, trade records, and other period documents to further understand images like this. That helps us to reveal the complex social and economic context of Amsterdam's rise as a global trading power.