Slipped beneath the dunes of Bloemendaal, the IJskelder whispers tales of a time before refrigeration. This ice cellar, built around 1850, isn’t in Amsterdam proper. Yet, it connects to Amsterdam’s history in fascinating ways. The IJskelder held ice harvested from frozen canals and ponds, much like those that crisscross Amsterdam. Imagine the scene in a frigid Dutch winter. Workers, bundled in thick layers, would saw blocks of ice from the frozen Amstel River. These icy treasures were then transported to ice cellars like this one, the IJskelder. Here, packed in layers of insulating straw and sawdust, the ice could last for months. This ice was a valuable commodity for Amsterdam’s burgeoning 19th-century economy. Breweries like Heineken, founded in Amsterdam in 1873, relied on ice to cool their product. Wealthy Amsterdammers used ice to preserve food and chill their drinks. Hospitals utilized it for medical purposes. The IJskelder, though tucked away in Bloemendaal, played a vital role in preserving Amsterdam’s goods. It also kept its people comfortable, and businesses thriving. So, as you stand before the IJskelder, picture not just a simple cellar. See a link to Amsterdam’s past, a testament to ingenuity and the importance of a good cold block of ice in a world without modern refrigeration.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to