Detail van de schoorsteen in het Arsenaal of de stadsturfpakhuizen te Amsterdam 1909

This photograph captures a detail of the chimney in the former Oude Zijds Huiszitten Almoseniershuis, or Old Side Alms House, in Amsterdam. Taken by an anonymous photographer working for Monumentenzorg, the Netherlands heritage agency, it presents a moment frozen in time, likely dating from August 1949. The image offers a glimpse into the architecture and interior design of a space intended for the poor and vulnerable. The ornate carvings and floral wallpaper create a tension between the aesthetics of wealth and the building's function as a place of refuge for those with little material wealth. Consider how the image and its institutional creation reflect a concern for preserving cultural heritage, and how even spaces dedicated to poverty are deemed worthy of documentation. It invites us to reflect on the stories embedded in the walls of such places.