Beneath Amsterdam lies a hidden world. Discarded, forgotten, concealed. City archaeologists have uncovered many hidden secrets. Images of 800 archaeological finds bring the lost city to life in the book Under/Under Amsterdam.
The results of 70 years of archaeological excavation and research have been carefully conserved and are stored in the archaeological depot. Amsterdam has many archaeological objects. The construction of the North/South metro line alone yielded 700,000 finds.
Making Archaeology Accessible
The alderman for Archaeology proposed making archaeology accessible to a different and broader audience. This led the Monuments and Archaeology department to conceive a book. The internationally renowned book designer Irma Boom created it. After visiting the archaeological depot, Boom selected over 800 objects and arranged them in her own way.
Picture Book
The book is a series of images. Often strong pairs stand next to each other, such as a black comb and a toy gun. Both black. There are possible rhymes: one image playfully refers to the other, like the toy gun to the comb.
Amsterdam of the Past
The Monuments and Archaeology department has much interesting to tell. This book shows the richness of Amsterdams soil archive. The Amsterdam of the past comes very close. You see many recognizable things and also objects that raise questions. Items used in the past, but you wonder what for.
From 124,000 to 30 Years Ago
The objects range from 124,000 years ago to about 30 years ago. From a brick to a piggy bank. Colored glass, a spear point, and the previous generation of mobile phones: there is much to discover.
Also Outside the Old City Center
Most archaeological finds come from the city center, such as the 700,000 found during the construction of the North/South metro line. These were mainly in and near the course of the old Amstel stream. However, many finds also come from outside the old city center. Outside the old city center there were monasteries, old villages like Sloten, Osdorp, and Sloterdijk, and of course old roads like the Osdorperweg. Much surprising material is found there as well.
Understanding the City
The book sheds new light on Amsterdam archaeology. It is a surprising and playful view. Most people associate archaeology with treasure hunting. But that is not correct. Archaeology is about looking. Why is an object here? And why at this depth? You learn to understand a place or city better by what the underground tells you. And you can see how the city is built up. With the large collection of these items, you feel part of the long line from the past, through the present, to the future.
Under/Under Amsterdam
Under/Under Amsterdam is published by Hannibal Books and will be available from November 25, 2025, in bookstores in the Netherlands and Belgium or via the Hannibal Books website. Price: €35.
Photo above article: a toy gun and a comb from the previous century
