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De socialistische beweging heeft zich steeds verzet tegen de kinderarbeid, één van de grootste kwalen van het industrieel kapitalisme. Gans de 19e eeuw door weigerde de burgerij een einde te maken aan de uitbuiting van kinderen. De tewerkstelling van vaak zeer jonge kinderen in slechte omstandigheden had uiterst nadelige gevolgen. Slechts in 1884 werd het verboden jongens van minder dan 12 jaar en meisjes onder de 14 jaar in de mijnen tewerk te stellen. Vijf jaar later werd elke industriële arbeid verboden voor kinderen van minder dan 12 jaar en werd de arbeid van tieners gereglementeerd.

The ANDB organized some 80% of the diamond workers in the Netherlands. This gave the union a strong position in negotiating with employers. When the union called for a strike, the whole diamond industry came to a standstill. The photograph shows diamond workers at a large strike meeting where the strategy was discussed

In 1911 the ANDB (General Dutch Union of Diamond Workers) reached the eight hour working day, which was propagated by the labour movement under the slogan 'eight hours of work, eight hours of rest, eight hours of sleep. This milestone was celebrated on a large scale. Here decorations for the union's headquarters are proudly shown.

The ANDB (General Dutch Union of Diamond Workers) was the first union in the Netherlands that could afford to build its own headquarters. The union employed the architect H.P. Berlage, who later became very famous. Berlage designed a building that looked like a fortress on the outside, to indicate the strength and determination of the organization.

Michail Aleksandrovic Bakunin (1814-1876) was one of the founding fathers of anarchism, agitating and writing against the state, against religion and for individual freedom. Within the First International, he was Marx's main rival.