The last of the OLD WORLD GIANTS. 7 Albert Kramer the Giant of Amsterdam

AI EXPLAINS HOW THE HAT MAKES HIM LOOK BIG.

The tall man in the photograph is Albert Kramer, often referred to as the "Giant of Amsterdam".

He was famously known as the tallest man in the Netherlands, reportedly reaching a height of approximately 2.42 meters (about 7 feet 11 inches).

Key details about the image:
The Child: On his arm, he is carrying Seppetoni, a Swiss performer with dwarfism who often toured with him as part of a variety act.
De Telegraaf
Background: Born in 1897 in Amsterdam's De Pijp district, Kramer spent much of his life traveling with circuses and performing in variety shows across Europe and the United States.

Context: This photograph is a classic example of "freak show" entertainment from the early 20th century, which was a common way for people with rare physical conditions to make a living at the time.

The top hat was a deliberate choice for his stage act, often adding significant perceived height. While Albert Kramer's actual height is most commonly cited at 2.42 meters (7'11"), the top hat likely added another 15–20 centimeters (6–8 inches), making him appear well over 8 feet tall in many public appearances.

To further emphasize his scale, he used several theatrical techniques:
The "Billed" Height: When touring, showmen often exaggerated his height in advertisements, billing him as being as tall as 2.82 meters (9'3").

Visual Contrast: He almost always appeared with a partner of short stature, like Seppetoni (Josef Fässler), who was approximately 1.07 meters (3'6"). This extreme physical contrast made Kramer look even more massive than he already was.

Costuming: His long, double-breasted overcoat and the high-crowned silk top hat were designed to elongate his silhouette, a common tactic for variety performers of the era.

Even without the hat, he was an extraordinary figure—by the age of seven, he was already over 2 meters (6'7") tall. He eventually used his fame to settle back in the Netherlands, where he opened his own café and founded the Klub Lange Mensen (Tall People’s Club), which still exists today.

He is only 5ft7 without the hat!