HISTORY OF ANTWERP'S DIAMOND TRADE
Antwerp is often called the “World’s Diamond Capital”, a title earned through centuries of expertise, craftsmanship, and global trade connections. Nestled along the River Scheldt with direct access to major trade routes, the city became a hub for luxury goods as early as the 15th century. Among its many trades, diamonds quickly rose to prominence, shaping Antwerp’s cultural and economic identity.
THE EARLY DAYS (15th–16th Century)
A pivotal moment in the industry’s history came with the invention of the scaif by the Flemish polisher Lodewyk van Berken around 1456. This revolutionary polishing wheel, using a mixture of diamond dust and oil, allowed for the precise cutting of facets on a diamond’s surface, creating the dazzling brilliance we associate with diamonds today. Van Berken’s innovation not only transformed the aesthetics of diamonds but also established Antwerp as the epicenter of diamond cutting and polishing in Europe.
The scaif’s success quickly drew the attention of European aristocracy. Van Berken’s reputation grew to such prominence that Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, commissioned him to cut and polish the legendary Florentine Diamond, one of the most celebrated gems of the era. As demand for beautifully faceted diamonds surged, Antwerp attracted skilled craftsmen and merchants from across Europe, fostering a community of expertise and innovation that would define the city for centuries.
DECLINE AND COMPETITION (17th–18th Century)
The prosperity of Antwerp’s diamond industry waned in the 17th century due to wars, political upheaval, and the decline of its port. During this time, Amsterdam emerged as the leading diamond-cutting center, attracting many skilled cutters and merchants away from Antwerp. For nearly two centuries, the diamond trade in Antwerp remained limited and struggled to regain its former glory.
ANTWERP’S MODERN DIAMOND INDUSTRY
The modern diamond industry in Antwerp truly took shape in the late 19th century. By the 1890s, a wave of Jewish diamond trading and manufacturing families relocated from Amsterdam—which had been the dominant diamond hub of Europe since the 17th century—to Antwerp. Amsterdam’s Sephardic Jewish diamantaires had already cultivated centuries of expertise in cutting and trading diamonds, and they brought this unparalleled knowledge to their new base in Antwerp. The city’s strategic port, flourishing economy, and its growing reputation as a secure and reliable center for commerce made it the natural successor to Amsterdam’s prominence in the trade.
These Jewish diamantaires were instrumental in building the foundations of Antwerp’s modern diamond district. They set up cutting workshops, brokerage houses, and trading firms, ensuring that Antwerp quickly became the focal point of the global diamond trade. By the early 20th century, they were at the forefront of establishing Antwerp’s formal diamond bourses (exchanges), which introduced structure, regulation, and professionalism to the trade. This legacy of expertise, precision, and trust remains at the heart of Antwerp’s diamond industry today.
20TH CENTURY AND BEYOND
Before World War II, Antwerp was home to more than half of the world’s diamond production. During the early 20th century, many Jewish families from Eastern Europe—particularly from Poland, Russia, and Lithuania—migrated to Antwerp, bringing their skills and joining the established Sephardic diamantaires in the trade. Alongside them, the Flemish population played a key role in the diamond industry, especially in the cutting workshops, where many Flemish artisans became renowned for their technical precision and craftsmanship.
The war brought devastation, particularly to the Jewish population, but post-war recovery was swift. In 1945, the Diamond Office was established to regulate and support the trade. By the late 20th century, Antwerp had solidified its position as the world’s leading diamond trading center, home to four major bourses and thousands of specialized companies.
ANTWERP TODAY
Today, Antwerp is home to approximately 1,400–1,470 diamond companies, directly employing around 3,300–3,500 people and serving as a cornerstone of Belgium’s economy. However, the diamond sector’s influence extends far beyond these figures—when accounting for related activities such as jewelry manufacturing, shipping, insurance, finance, logistics, and retail, the broader Antwerp diamond ecosystem supports roughly 6,600 direct jobs and an additional 26,000 indirect jobs, amounting to 30,000–34,000 jobs in total. Since the 1970s and 1980s, Antwerp’s trade has been significantly shaped by the Indian community, particularly diamantaires from Gujarat and the Jain and Palanpuri communities, who specialize in cutting and trading smaller diamonds. Their rise, combined with the traditional Jewish presence and Flemish craftsmanship, has made Antwerp one of the most multicultural and dynamic diamond centers in the world, reinforcing its position as Europe’s premier diamond gateway and a global hub of expertise.
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