Today we stand with Bob Maas at the Krasnapolsky, where an innovation emerged in the 19th century that changed the city forever: the first private power station.
Krasnapolsky
At the end of the 19th century, the Krasnapolsky was best known as a café-restaurant with its beautiful Winter Garden. But the owner saw opportunities. Electricity was new, exciting and promising. "We have to do something with this," he thought. And he did.
In the courtyard, Krasnapolsky had a steam engine built to generate its own electricity and heat. The experiment proved a great success.
The first private power plant
Just one year later, Krasnapolsky commissioned the famous architect Salm to build a real power station in its courtyard. The building still stands and marks a turning point in the city's history: Amsterdam's first private power station was a reality.
A thousand lights in the Winter Garden
The highlight came in 1883, during the World's Fair. As many as a thousand electric lamps hung in the Winter Garden at the time - a unique feature at the time. With this, Amsterdam had not only light, but also taken its first step towards the modern age.
A new chapter for the city
What began as a café-restaurant grew into an iconic hotel as well as a symbol of progress. Krasnapolsky's initiative shows how innovation and entrepreneurship come together to change the city.
In the previous episode, Bob Maas took you to Amsterdam's oldest house. Watch this episode here!
