Contemplate for a moment. What if this Stenen Silo could talk? What tales would it tell of Amsterdam’s maritime past?
The Stenen Silo stands tall. It is a former grain silo on the Silodam in Amsterdam. This 19th-century silo became a national monument in 1996. Officially it is named Korthals Altes. It is named after Jan Philip Korthals Altes. He was a city council member. He also directed N.V. Maatschappij tot Exploitatie van Graansilo’s en Pakhuizen.
Construction occurred from 1896 to 1898. Jacob Frederik Klinkhamer designed it. Adolf Leonard van Gendt assisted him. Korthals Altes commissioned the build. He wanted to secure Amsterdam’s grain supply in case of siege. The building became part of the Stelling van Amsterdam.
The Stenen Silo is 105 meters long. It contained 60 storage shafts. Each shaft covered 15 square meters. It could store 17 million kilos of grain. There was also a boiler house and a service house. These were designed in an eclectic style. Conveyor belts transported grain to ships and trains. The central section held steam engines and cleaning equipment. Offices were also located there. Pneumatic grain elevators arrived in 1902. They sped up unloading ships by sucking grain from the holds.
In 1952, the Betonnen Silo was built next to the Stenen Silo. The Stenen Silo had become too small. By the 1980s, both silos were outdated. IGMA’s modern grain storage complex made them redundant. Both silos were squatted. Dance parties happened often. There was also a restaurant, bakery, galleries, and studios.
Plans to demolish both silos failed. The Stenen Silo became a national monument in 1996. The grain silo had architectural and historical value. Its brick architecture was unique. It also had industrial archaeological value. It was a rare example of a brick silo building. Its location on the IJ was historically significant.
André van Stigt renovated the Stenen Silo into living spaces. Since 2001, it has housed 92 apartments and 4,500 square meters of office space. The building has been given a new lease on life.
The Silodam itself extends into the IJ. This 300-meter dam marks the eastern boundary of the Houthavens. The Stenen Silo reminds us of Amsterdam’s trading history. The Stenen Silo stands as a testament to Amsterdam’s ability to adapt. It combines old and new.