Albert Kramer: A Grand Journey Through Life
The Giant of Amsterdam is a novel based on the life of Albert Kramer, born on 15 June 1897 in the working-class district of De Pijp in Amsterdam. Albert had a rare growth disorder, which meant that he was already two metres tall at the age of seven. Eventually he grew to an impressive 2 metres 42, making him the tallest Dutchman ever. At the age of nineteen, Albert was discovered by a German talent scout and began a tour of Europe with the Swiss artist Josef 'Seppi' Fässler, who was only 69 cm tall. They travelled together with Seppi's sister Mina, and something beautiful soon blossomed between her and Albert. However, their paths diverged when Albert was given the opportunity to make a career in the United States. He joined the famous Wortham Circus there and achieved star status under the stage name 'Jan van Albert'. But
A new existence
Albert's enormous body weight caused his feet and legs to suffer more and more, which led to him being hospitalised several times. Back in the Netherlands after the war, he opted for a new life in the hospitality industry. He first ran café De Vlas- en Korenbeurs in Anna Paulowna, then returned to his hometown, where he opened Café Kramer on the corner of Theophile de Bockstraat and Sloterkade (present-day Ghent aan de Schinkel). On 12 January 1958, he founded the Klub Lange Mensen (KLM) - an association that stood up for the interests of tall people. Albert died in 1976 at the age of 79 in nursing home De Drie Hoven in Amsterdam Slotervaart, after both legs had been amputated due to serious circulation problems.
But this isn’t just a story about height and fame and their downsides – it’s also about love. In America, Albert realized what a huge mistake he had made by leaving Mina and her brother behind in Europe. Was it too late to win Mina back? Read it in De reus van Amsterdam.
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