In the 1400s, Lodewijk van Berckem, a visionary Belgian, merged diamond dust with olive oil, setting the stage for history’s inception. His ingenious contrivance, a wheel-operated apparatus capable of mechanically polishing diamonds from all angles, marked the genesis of Antwerp’s ascent in the global diamond industry. Embark on a journey through the Belgian port city of Antwerp, a distinguished moniker firmly entrenched as the world’s Diamond Capital.
Religious tolerance during the 1400s laid the groundwork for Antwerp’s meteoric rise to dominance in the global gem trade. Gradually, it evolved into a nucleus for the cutting, polishing, importing, exporting, and trading of diamonds.
Antwerp’s exchanges witness the transit of over 80% of unprocessed diamonds globally, along with half of the cut diamonds. Nestled within the city’s Diamond District, a network of 1,700 registered enterprises specializes in the trade of these exquisite gems, often referred to as “ice.”
Spanning the Hovenierstraat thoroughfare, a bustling urban expanse hosts numerous diamond merchants and associated businesses within this esteemed global hub. The renowned Diamond Square Mile lies just west of the Scheldt River, a testament to Antwerp’s enduring legacy in the diamond trade.
In 2018, Antwerp unveiled the DIVA museum, a homage to the city’s illustrious history in the diamond trade. The institution serves as a beacon, showcasing both the artistry and scientific facets of diamonds. Among its captivating exhibits stands a one-million-dollar diamond-studded golden tennis racket. This museum, representing the pinnacle of the diamond industry, also pays tribute to the local silver-working trade that intricately intertwines with the city’s gemological history.
Antwerp, situated in the northern reaches of Belgium, lies approximately ten miles from the Dutch border and 62.7 miles from Rotterdam. While Belgium officially recognizes three languages—French, Dutch, and German—Flemish Dutch remains the predominant dialect spoken by the majority of Antwerp’s inhabitants.
Before ascending to its renowned status as the world’s Diamond Capital, Antwerp flourished as a vital trading center toward the conclusion of the medieval era. Its strategic proximity to the English Channel and the North Sea catapulted it into a commercial powerhouse during the 1400s. Historians speculate that nearly half of the world’s trade traversed through Antwerp during its Renaissance zenith.
The city witnessed the inauguration of an early stock trade in the 1460s, considered a pioneering endeavor globally. Flourishing alongside a myriad of cloth and spice merchants, the Flemish school of painting thrived in this vibrant milieu. Subsequent to Gutenberg’s invention of movable type in Germany, Antwerp emerged as a beacon for printing houses and publishers.
The discovery of colossal diamond reserves in Africa in 1866, and later, discoveries even in unexpected locales like Arkansas, propelled Antwerp’s diamond trade into unprecedented ascendancy. No longer merely one among many trades, diamonds surged to the forefront. Concurrently, the advent of European railway networks saw diamond traders establishing their base near what is now known as Antwerpen-Centraal or the Antwerp Central Train Station.
Though primary ore refining and industrial diamond production have shifted to countries offering lower labor costs, Antwerp remains the epicenter for diamond trade, science, and artistry. It retains its distinguished status as the global Diamond Capital.
Presently, the beating heart of the Diamond District lies adjacent to the Hovenierstraat, nestled near the iconic train station, symbolizing the enduring spirit and prestige of Antwerp’s diamond legacy.
