Verenigde Bouwmaatschappij tot Verkrijging van Eigen Woningen Stone

Were houses built with dimes? At first glance, the Verenigde Bouwmaatschappij tot Verkrijging van Eigen Woningen Stone seems like an ordinary stone. But it represents a remarkable dream. It’s a testament to the Verenigde Bouwmaatschappij tot Verkrijging van Eigen Woningen (Construction Company for the Establishment of Privately Owned Homes), Amsterdam’s first cooperative housing association. Founded in 1868 by workers, their goal was simple yet revolutionary: provide affordable housing for the working class. The association’s innovative idea involved weekly “dime” dues, or “dubbeltjes,” paid by members. This seemingly small contribution was intended to accumulate into enough capital for building homes. These homes, after twenty years of payments, would become the property of the residents. This ambitious plan gave rise to the name “Dime Buildings” or “Dubbeltjespanden,” for the homes constructed by the association. The Verenigde Bouwmaatschappij tot Verkrijging van Eigen Woningen Stone stands as a tribute to this initiative. The dime system, unfortunately, faced obstacles and didn’t entirely succeed as envisioned. The first project, the Dime Buildings on Mauritskade, began construction in 1872. Financial difficulties delayed the completion of the entire street until 1885. The small two-story homes, each around 30 square meters, provided much-needed housing at a rent of fl 1.75 per week in 1878. The association also built a second set of Dime Buildings in Czaar Peterstraat between 1878 and 1880. Sadly, these buildings were later demolished after a gas explosion in 2001. The Verenigde Bouwmaatschappij tot Verkrijging van Eigen Woningen Stone serves not just as a memorial to the association’s founder, Lucas van Buuren, but also as a reminder of this lost piece of Amsterdam’s history. This stone, designed by Piet Kramer in 1937, rests within the Coöperatiehof, a housing complex also built by the association. The stone’s inscriptions tell the story of Van Buuren’s dedication to the cause of affordable housing. They commemorate his leadership and the collective effort of the association’s members. The Verenigde Bouwmaatschappij tot Verkrijging van Eigen Woningen may not have perfectly achieved its initial goal, but it paved the way for future housing initiatives in Amsterdam. This stone stands as a testament to the power of collective action, a reminder of a time when even a dime could contribute to building a dream.