Archief van het Spin- en Nieuwe Werkhuis
Item
Country
NL
Name of institution (English)
Amsterdam City Archives
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
dut
Contact information: postal address
Vijzelstraat 32, 1017 HL Amsterdam
Contact information: phone number
0031 202511511
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
stadarchief@amsterdam.nl
Reference number
347
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Archive of the Spinhuis and New Workhouse
Title (official language of the state)
Archief van het Spin- en Nieuwe Werkhuis
Language of title
dut
Creator / accumulator
Nieuwe Werkhuis
Spinhuis
Date(s)
1643/1877
Language(s)
dut
Extent
561 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The Archief van het Spin- en Nieuwe Werkhuis comprises documentation related to the management of workhouses and the control of begging. The fonds is divided into two major sub-collections. The first, Archief van regenten over het Spin- en Nieuwe Werkhuis, is the largest one and contains institutional documentation related to the management of the Spinhuis and the Nieuwe Werkhuis. This sub-collection is divided into two sections: Algemeene Zaken (general affairs) and Bijzondere Zaken (particular matters). These sections are organised in areas of activity (internal administration, staff, finance, kitchen, etc.) or by institutions and document types. The second sub-collection, Archief van de Gecommitteerde Opzienders over de Bedelaars (Committee of the Committed Oversees on Beggars), is composed of two units: the register of the paid beggars (1597-1598) and a blank form for admitting someone for three months as a fish carrier (17th century).
This fonds contains interesting documentation on efforts undertaken by some members of the Sephardic community of Amsterdam to release Jewish children and young people detained in these workhouses. For instance, Daniel Pinto often paid the city authorities in order to release the Jews (both Ashkenazim and Sephardim) confined in the workhouses from forced work on Saturdays and Jewish holidays. He regularly visited the workhouses in the 1650s and 1660s, sometimes accompanied by members of the Ashkenazic community. In 1663, Daniel Pinto went to the Rasphuis with Abraham Barents and negotiated the release of a 10-year-old Jewish boy who was incarcerated for begging in the streets (no. 117, fol. 220). On November 11, 1657, Daniel Pinto had managed to free Salomon Nachem, a 17-year-old Polish boy. Months later, on January 12, 1658, he also freed Cars Jutte, from Poland, aged 13 (no. 116, fol. 130). Pinto was not the only Portuguese Jew involved in this mission. On April 7, 1662, Samuel de Souza paid 100 guilders for Netel Worf's freedom. She was a 40-year-old Jewish woman from Krakow (no. 117, fols. 115-7). Isaac Brandon also intervened to release an incarcerated Jew, Salomon David, aged 28, on July 17, 1658 (no. 116, fols. 116). See Bernfeld (2012), 119-120.
This fonds contains interesting documentation on efforts undertaken by some members of the Sephardic community of Amsterdam to release Jewish children and young people detained in these workhouses. For instance, Daniel Pinto often paid the city authorities in order to release the Jews (both Ashkenazim and Sephardim) confined in the workhouses from forced work on Saturdays and Jewish holidays. He regularly visited the workhouses in the 1650s and 1660s, sometimes accompanied by members of the Ashkenazic community. In 1663, Daniel Pinto went to the Rasphuis with Abraham Barents and negotiated the release of a 10-year-old Jewish boy who was incarcerated for begging in the streets (no. 117, fol. 220). On November 11, 1657, Daniel Pinto had managed to free Salomon Nachem, a 17-year-old Polish boy. Months later, on January 12, 1658, he also freed Cars Jutte, from Poland, aged 13 (no. 116, fol. 130). Pinto was not the only Portuguese Jew involved in this mission. On April 7, 1662, Samuel de Souza paid 100 guilders for Netel Worf's freedom. She was a 40-year-old Jewish woman from Krakow (no. 117, fols. 115-7). Isaac Brandon also intervened to release an incarcerated Jew, Salomon David, aged 28, on July 17, 1658 (no. 116, fols. 116). See Bernfeld (2012), 119-120.
Archival history
Even before the incorporation of the Spinhuis and Nieuwe Werkhuis archives into the Amsterdam City Archive in the early 1920s, numerous records produced by these workhouses had already been lost over time. In 1643, a fire hit the Spinhuis, and its archive was completely destroyed. In fact, only a few documents dated before 1654 survived to the present. Information regarding the archival history of this fonds is very scarce for the 17th and 18th centuries. Yet, there is more information for the early 19th century. After the transfer of the administration of the Spinhuis to the newly appointed "regenten van de gevangenissen" (regents of the prisons), the documents were transferred to the "gewone kantoor", a room located on the first floor of the Spin- en Nieuwe Werkhuis building on Nieuwe Prinsengracht in 1818. Then, a list of the archive holdings was composed. By comparing this list with the current fonds, only the "Kasboek" (Cash Book) after 1811 (the only cash book after 1811), the "Ordonnantieboek" (Ordinance Book), and the "Instructieboek" (Instruction Book) of the attendants are missing. The archive remained in this room until 1831. On March 16, 1831, after the resignation of the last regent, the documents were transferred to the general archives of the Stedelijk Armenhuis (Municipal House of the Poor).
The Spin- en Nieuwe Werkhuis archive was kept there until the 1920s. On June 24, 1921, the burgomaster and aldermen of Amsterdam decided to transfer the documentation up to 1870, which amounted to approximately 27 linear metres, to the City Archives. The records were finally arranged there in 1925.
The Spin- en Nieuwe Werkhuis archive was kept there until the 1920s. On June 24, 1921, the burgomaster and aldermen of Amsterdam decided to transfer the documentation up to 1870, which amounted to approximately 27 linear metres, to the City Archives. The records were finally arranged there in 1925.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Spinhuis was founded in 1596 in the former Saint Ursula monastery. Initially, it was intended to be a charity institution, but soon it became a women's correctional home. The Spinhuis admitted beggars and girls of unruly behaviour at the request of their parents.
Around 1643, 32 people were housed in the institution. In that year, a fire destroyed the building, which was rebuilt two years later, in 1645. Over the years, the population of the Spinhuis grew and reached about 60 girls in 1765, the largest number ever recorded.
In order to prevent underprivileged children from begging, in 1650, the City Council decided to rent a few warehouses at the West India Company on the Prins Hendrikkade and converted them into "Armen-Kinderen-Werkhuis" (Impoverished Children Workhouses). They soon became places to employ beggars and vagrants.
During the 18th century, poverty prevention gained special relevance. On January 5, 1779, a new resolution of the City Council determined the foundation of a large workhouse through the merger of both houses (the Spinhuis and the Armen-Kinderen-Werkhuis). In 1782, this new institution, called the Spin- en Nieuwe Werkhuis on the Weesperveld (Nieuwe Prinsengracht), was completed. The population of the new workhouse was usually between 600 and 800 people, but it occasionally rose to 1000 in the early 19th century. In 1813, the figure reached 1200.
The French rule led to transformations in the management of the workhouse. In 1811, the Spinhuis came under the control of the "regenten van de gevangenissen" (regents of the prisons) and its administration was separated from the Nieuwe Werkhuis. However, they remained in the same building. Later, the Spinhuis was evacuated. In 1821, 20 women were transferred to the "tucht- en werkhuis" (correctional and workhouse) in Vilvoorde and the rest to Haarlem. After the dissolution of the Spinhuis, regents were authorised to call themselves "Regenten van het Werkhuis der Stad Amsterdam" (regents of the workhouse of the city of Amsterdam) from then on.
An amendment to the "Armenwet" (poor people's law) led the City Council to decide on the dissolution of the old college of regents and their administrative activities also came to an end.
Around 1643, 32 people were housed in the institution. In that year, a fire destroyed the building, which was rebuilt two years later, in 1645. Over the years, the population of the Spinhuis grew and reached about 60 girls in 1765, the largest number ever recorded.
In order to prevent underprivileged children from begging, in 1650, the City Council decided to rent a few warehouses at the West India Company on the Prins Hendrikkade and converted them into "Armen-Kinderen-Werkhuis" (Impoverished Children Workhouses). They soon became places to employ beggars and vagrants.
During the 18th century, poverty prevention gained special relevance. On January 5, 1779, a new resolution of the City Council determined the foundation of a large workhouse through the merger of both houses (the Spinhuis and the Armen-Kinderen-Werkhuis). In 1782, this new institution, called the Spin- en Nieuwe Werkhuis on the Weesperveld (Nieuwe Prinsengracht), was completed. The population of the new workhouse was usually between 600 and 800 people, but it occasionally rose to 1000 in the early 19th century. In 1813, the figure reached 1200.
The French rule led to transformations in the management of the workhouse. In 1811, the Spinhuis came under the control of the "regenten van de gevangenissen" (regents of the prisons) and its administration was separated from the Nieuwe Werkhuis. However, they remained in the same building. Later, the Spinhuis was evacuated. In 1821, 20 women were transferred to the "tucht- en werkhuis" (correctional and workhouse) in Vilvoorde and the rest to Haarlem. After the dissolution of the Spinhuis, regents were authorised to call themselves "Regenten van het Werkhuis der Stad Amsterdam" (regents of the workhouse of the city of Amsterdam) from then on.
An amendment to the "Armenwet" (poor people's law) led the City Council to decide on the dissolution of the old college of regents and their administrative activities also came to an end.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The fonds is organised into two major collections, related to two different institutions: the Nieuwe Wekhuis and the Gecommitteerde opzienders over de bedelaars. Internally, documents are arranged by activity area and, finally, chronologically.
Access, restrictions
Digital copies of some records are available online:
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2022
Linked resources
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| Stadsarchief Amsterdam | Collections (official language of the state) |