It is with great joy that we announce an exciting new chapter in Spryng's continued growth and development. From 1 July 2024, we will move our offices from the bustling Hannie Dankbaarpassage 20-b in Amsterdam, located in the cultural heart of De Hallen, to a historic and prestigious location at Prinsengracht 739-741 in Amsterdam. This move marks an important step in our evolution and allows us to further fulfil our ambitions in an environment rich in history and character.
Hannie Dankbaarpassage, the former tram depot of the city of Amsterdam, located in the dynamic De Hallen complex, has provided us with an inspiring and creative workspace in recent years. Here we have achieved numerous milestones; the expansion into the DACH region, the acquisition of Spryng by Commify, and last year (2023) was the best year ever for Spryng. While we say goodbye to this special place with some melancholy, we look forward with great enthusiasm to the new opportunities and adventures that await us at Prinsengracht.
Nestled in one of Amsterdam's most iconic canals, our new location offers not only beautiful and historic surroundings, but also the facilities and space we need to support our growing ambitions. The Prinsengracht is steeped in rich history and offers an inspiring setting that perfectly suits Spryng's innovative and progressive spirit.
The Prinsengracht: a history
One of the four major canals in the centre of Amsterdam, the Prinsengracht is an essential part of the famous Grachtengordel, built in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age. This period was known for its economic prosperity and cultural flowering, which resulted in the construction of the ring of canals, a unique feat of urban planning and water management.
The canal is named after Prince William of Orange, the leader of the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule and a central figure in Dutch history. Construction of the Prinsengracht began in 1612 and was intended to provide space for Amsterdam's growing population. The canal soon became a coveted living and working area for the city's wealthy, with beautiful canal houses that often served as both residential and commercial space.
The Prinsengracht is distinguished by its impressive architecture and the many historic buildings that can be found along the canal. One example is the Westerkerk, built between 1620 and 1631, whose tower, the Westertoren, is one of Amsterdam's most famous and recognisable landmarks. Also located on the Prinsengracht is the Anne Frank House, where the Jewish Anne Frank wrote her famous diary during World War II.
Over the centuries, the Prinsengracht has built up a rich history, witnessing both prosperous periods and difficult times in Amsterdam's history. Today, the Prinsengracht is one of the most iconic and beloved spots in Amsterdam, popular with tourists and locals alike. The canal remains a lively centre of culture and commerce, with numerous shops, cafés, museums and residential houses contributing to the unique charm and historical character of this part of the city.
History of our new premises
Our new office, located at Prinsengracht 739-741, has a special and rich history. At the beginning of the 20th century, the popularity of ice cream for direct consumption-ice cream rose, partly because its production and storage had become easier. Besides artisanal ice cream, made by confectioners and Italian ice cream makers, factory ice cream also became increasingly popular.
This first Amsterdam ice cream factory was located in the premises of the Amsterdamsche Melkinrichting founded in 1876 at Prinsengracht 739-741. After a merger with several other milk establishments, the Vereenigde Amsterdamsche Melkinrichtingen (VAMI) was formed. In 1923, VAMI started producing VAMI ice cream, made with American materials and according to American recipes. Which means that our new office was known as the most modern ice cream factory in Europe!
Ice cream consumption boomed in the United States from 1920, where it was seen as ‘comfort food’ during Prohibition, when alcohol was banned. After World War II, VAMI was acquired by Albert Heijn, which sold the ice cream factory to Unilever in 1962. The factory on Prinsengracht was closed, but its beautiful facade was preserved. The building, designed in neo-renaissance style by architect Eduard Cuypers in 1885, has an exuberantly decorated top, a bay window and a turret. Above the entrance is a frieze by sculptor Emil Van de Bossche depicting milk production. (Lunenberg.info, 2021)
A new chapter for Spryng
Although we had a great time at our office in De Hallen, we are very excited to get started at our new location on Prinsengracht. We believe this move will allow us to grow even better and serve our clients even better.
For more information about Spryng and our SMS and WhatsApp for Business services, visit our website www.spryng.be/en. We look forward to welcoming you to our new location!
