The scent of fresh bread and fish fills the streets as creaking ships from Norway dock in the harbor, laden with stacks of wood for shipbuilding and canal houses. Norwegian sailors, traders, and workers move among the cargo. Men and women who come to Amsterdam not only to unload their goods but also their dreams.
In the 17th century, Amsterdam had grown into one of the largest trading cities in the world. The city needed a lot of materials for building new houses, ships, and the foundations of the canal houses. Wood was particularly important. And that wood often came from Norway. ‘Amsterdam staaer paa Norge,’ said the Danish scholar Holger Jacobæus. The city stands on piles, yes, but also on Norway. Amsterdam, he said, was an underground forest.
From Riksdalers to Guilders
With the wood also came many Norwegian sailors, traders, and workers to the city. For the men, the journey to Amsterdam was simple. They signed on as sailors or soldiers on a ship and worked to pay for the crossing. Women traveled as passengers, which was quite expensive. The cost of the voyage could amount to a years salary for a maid. But the wages in Amsterdam were higher than in Norway. A maid earned 120 guilders a year in the Netherlands, about 48 Norwegian Riksdalers. For the same work, she received only 1.25 Norwegian Riksdalers in Norway. And so women were willing to pay for it.
Working for the VOC
The Norwegians brought their own knowledge and skills. Their influence was particularly evident in maritime affairs. Many Norwegian men worked as sailors for the VOC. The trading company needed people for its ships and trading posts. It was a hard, dangerous job, but the Norwegians had experience with the sailing techniques needed for long journeys. Terms that already appeared in the Norwegian maritime tradition, such as kiel (the bottom of a ship) or ra (the horizontal beams to which the sails are attached), were then also used in Dutch.
One sailor more or less
Amsterdam residents were quite fine with the Norwegians working for the VOC. They themselves were not so enthusiastic about working in overseas areas because the risks were high. Traveling to the East and working at the trading posts was dangerous, with a high chance of tropical diseases or malnutrition. Only a third of the people survived the journey. Dysentery (severe diarrhea) and typhus spread like wildfire on the ships. The VOC ensured that the ships always had more crew than necessary so that there were enough replacements for those who died. One sailor more or less did not bother the VOC. It was often said, The VOC can easily get a new soldier or sailor for 9 guilders.
Not a windfall
The Norwegian women often worked as maids, and although the wages were higher than in Norway, it was still not a windfall. The girl Marit Roelofs arrived alone in Amsterdam from Bergen in the summer of 1668. Without family or friends, she found a job as a maid in a tavern. She missed her home, and the work was much harder than expected. Desperate, she devised a plan. She would start a small fire, steal money and valuables in the ensuing chaos, and flee to Bergen. But the fire spread faster than expected and completely destroyed the tavern. Marit was arrested, convicted, and ultimately executed. Her dream of returning to Bergen ended at the gallows.
Life not easy
The Norwegian community in Amsterdam was poor but close-knit. The Norwegians lived close to each other and often married other Norwegians or German sailors. The Lutheran church played a significant role in their social life, and they maintained good contact with their homeland and other Norwegians in the city. However, quarrels and fights, often under the influence of brandy, occurred regularly. Amsterdam offered many opportunities, but life was not easy. Fully integrating into society proved difficult for less affluent migrants, and the opportunities to work their way up were limited. This led to frustration. Sometimes things went wrong, as happened on the Zeedijk in the autumn of 1666.
Murder
In a basement apartment, a dead man was found. His throat had been cut. The Norwegian Peter Pieters turned out to be the perpetrator. Peter and his wife had come to Amsterdam together from Norway in the hope of a better life. He worked as a shoemakers apprentice, and she as a cleaner. They lived in a small room that they shared with other tenants. The birth of their first daughter brought not only joy but also worries about money. When Peters wife discovered that their neighbor Jan kept money and gold in a drawer, Peter began to fantasize about a way out of their poverty. One evening, heavily intoxicated with brandy, he attempted to rob Jan. But Jan woke up, and a struggle ensued. In a moment of rage, Peter cut Jans throat. He was sentenced to death while his wife and daughter were banished from the city.
Modest influence
Despite their often modest position, Norwegian and Scandinavian migrants did contribute to the city in ways that are still noticeable today. The timber trade with Norway was crucial for the construction of Amsterdam and made the citys growth possible. And the expertise of the Norwegians in shipping was of great importance. They contributed to the colorful mix of cultures that characterized the city in the 17th century.
A sailors dream
Their stories, from dreams of a better life to tragic crimes, reflect the harsh reality that many migrants in Amsterdam faced. The city offered opportunities, but also risks and hardships. As you walk past an old Amsterdam building, consider that it may rest on Norwegian wood, brought in by a sailor who once left his home behind for a chance in our city.
Top photo: View from the IJ from the northeast on Oostenburg, towards the East India Dock and the East India Sea Warehouse of the VOC.
Photos: Amsterdam City Archive