From the pawn shop to the terrazzo mosaic floor in the Rijksmuseum: Italian traces can be found all over Amsterdam

The Italian community in Amsterdam has grown significantly, with the number of residents of Italian descent doubling over the past decade. While there is no centralized Little Italy, the city is deeply marked by centuries of Italian influence. Historical traces range from the medieval Lombard bankers, who provided essential credit, to 17th-century figures like Maria Therese Tensini, who established a clandestine Catholic church on the Raamgracht. These early waves of migration established foundations for future generations of workers.

By the late 17th century, Italian chimney sweepers from the Piedmont and Ticino regions dominated their trade in the city, leaving their mark on street names like the Schoorsteenvegerssteeg. Later, in the 19th and 20th centuries, skilled mosaic and terrazzo artisans from Friuli transformed Amsterdam's architecture, with their craftsmanship still visible in landmarks like the Rijksmuseum and various historic porticos. These diverse waves of migration, including the later arrival of Italian ice cream makers, have integrated deeply into the fabric of the city over hundreds of years.