Oldest Milkfactory

Welcome to Prinsengracht numbers 739 - 741, where you will see a characteristic building with a charming little tower on your left. This beautiful building dates back to the year 1885 and has a rich history as the very first milk factory in the Netherlands, better known as the Amsterdamsche Melkinrichting.

Long ago, milk was transported to Amsterdam by boat and then processed in large, open wooden barrels. It was a time when canal water was used to clean these barrels. But with the arrival of this new milk factory, everything changed. Here, carefully sterilised, sealed copper milk cans were used for the first time.

Let's go back in time for a moment. A few years earlier in 1851, Jacob van Lennep, founded the Amsterdam Drinking Water Company. This pioneering company brought clean dune water to the city through a sophisticated pipeline network. Imagine the impact when the dairy and the drinking water company went hand in hand. Together, they made an immense contribution to the hygiene of the people of Amsterdam.

The introduction of sealed milk cans and the availability of clean water meant a quantum leap in health and hygiene. These are just some of the many historical developments that changed life in Amsterdam forever.