DE HANDELMIJ.

Fifth of the “Histoire Naturelle” aviary paintings for the entrance of an 18th century urban palazzo on the Amsterdam canals, once the headoffice of the "Nederlandsche Handel Maatschappij". This company, founded by the King in the early 1820's, as an attempt to revive the glory days of the Dutch East India Company, was to evolve eventually into today's ABN AMRO Bank. It's history combines great 19th c. economic recovery with kolonial abuse on a grand scale.