History of Amsterdam (part 5)RevoltA reform movement sprang up in Amsterdam, demanding an end to the corruption of the regents. By 1748 this had grown into a widespread popular drive. Rioting erupted across the Seven Provinces with the violence directed at the hated tax-gatherers. Their houses were systematically plundered and destroyed. The authorities acted with an iron fist. The ring-leaders were captured and hanged.A generation later the so-called Patriot movement fought for the same ideals. But this time they targeted not only the regents but also the House of Orange and the way the province of Holland and Amsterdam dominated the Republic. There were some ugly incidents and skirmishes and many of the Patriots fled to France. This was on the eve of the French Revolution. Helped by French sympathizers and inspired by ideals of freedom, equality and brotherhood, they returned - effectively taking over the Dutch Republic in 1795. The city authorities were ejected and replaced by provisional representatives of the people. These were the first experimental shoots of democracy. Capital cityIt was a short interlude. Napoleonic French influence turned into interference, then dictatorship. The Republic was given a single head of state, only to become a Kingdom, under Napoleon's brother Louis. Louis Napoleon chose Amsterdam as his official place of residence, making it the country's focal point and capital. In 1813 the allies defeated Napoleon and the French left the Netherlands. In 1815 William I became king. Formally Amsterdam remained the capital but after some time, the government went to The Hague.Industrial revolutionIndustrialization was certainly a boost for the city's economy but with it came social unrest. Faced with the problem of the old port silting up, Amsterdam applied a solution from its Golden Age: canal building. The new North Holland Canal linked the city directly with the North Sea port of Den Helder. It was a bold move but prosperity was slow in returning. Poverty was rampant. The turnaround came after 1870 with the opening of another canal, Suez, and German unification under Bismarck. Both were good news for international business. The year 1870 also brought the first rough diamond from south Africa. Amsterdam's already world famous diamond industry expanded even more. And in 1876 the North Sea Canal gave Amsterdam a direct link with the sea.The city expandsThe opening of Central Station in 1889 positioned Amsterdam firmly on the rail map. As if reawakened to its status, the city started to build on a grand scale: theaters, museums, hotels and department stores. The years after 1870 also saw a brand on new workers' neighborhoods arise. The city needed workers, the workers needed homes but quality of building and creation of living environment had a low priority.The 20th century up to 1940The Housing Act of 1901 was designed to end the appalling living conditions endured by many people. The authorities now had powers to confiscate and demolish slum dwellings. The new Act also set out minimum building standards. New grant arrangements led to creation of many housing cooperatives; to this day, they are important players in the provision of public sector housing. The city expanded in other directions and styles. Delightful garden neighborhoods sprang up. The idealistic Amsterdam school of architecture created a number of neighborhoods with low-cost rented housing, around the old city. A small airport was established at Schiphol to the south-east of the city and 900 hectare wooded recreation area was laid out on the south-west fringe.The great depression hit hard. In 1934 the government decided to cut the dole paid to the unemployed. There was a brief outbreak of rioting in working-class districts like the Jordaan (today a fashionable place to live). |