Korendragers- en -stortersgilde van Amsterdam, gildepenning van Maximiliaan Hendrik Wythof 1822

This guild badge of Maximiliaan Hendrik Wythof, from Amsterdam, is made of silver. It gives us a glimpse into the social world of laborers and the institutions they created to protect themselves. The image depicts a ‘korendrager’, or grain carrier, standing proudly between two boats, a bag of grain on his head. Guilds like this one regulated labor, provided mutual aid, and represented workers' interests. The inscription on the reverse suggests this particular badge was made to commemorate Maximiliaan Hendrik Wythof joining the guild in 1822. The image on the badge isn't just a neutral depiction of labor; it's a statement of identity and pride. In a time when social status was rigidly defined, guilds offered workers a sense of belonging and collective power. Guild records and related documents can tell us a great deal about the social and economic history of labor in Amsterdam.