From the beginning, Vlooienburg had been an immigrant community. People were attracted to the business and work opportunities, and the relative freedom of religion. The wood merchants that settled here came from other cities in the Netherlands or Germany. But also various religious groups that were prosecuted in their home country found a safe haven in Amsterdam. The brownists, a christian radical puritan group from England, found their way to Vlooienburg, and opened their church on Lange Houtsraat no. 26 (Hell 2024).
From 1625 onwards we increasingly see foreign names occurring in the administration of property ownership transfers (Hell 2024). These are from Sephardic Jewish refugees from Spain and Portugal.
Hell, M., 2024. Verloren wereld in de Amstelbocht. Leven op Vlooienburg, 1600-1815. Walburg pers.