Bernardus Antonius Lubbers (1881-1968) Bernardus Antonius Lubbers was born in Amsterdam on August 10, 1881. After completing the Ambachtsschool in Amsterdam in 1898, he worked in various places. In 1903, Lubbers is employed as a draftsman by the architect J.A. van Straaten Jr. in Amsterdam. Van Straaten is commissioned around 1910 to build a new department store for the firm "De Bijenkorf" on the site of the old merchant exchange on the Damrak in Amsterdam. This building is attributed to Van Straaten to this day. However, Lubbers already claims to be the actual designer during construction, which also emerges from the archival documents. Tension arises between Lubbers and Van Straaten, followed by a lawsuit and dismissal. Lubbers is still seeking recognition for a long time, which is evidenced by, among other things, his business cards, which explicitly state: "architect of DE BIJENKORF". In 1919, Lubbers is appointed temporary architect-bureau chief at the Public Works Department of the City of Amsterdam. A permanent appointment as architect follows in 1921, followed in 1930 by his appointment as chief architect. Lubbers was honorably discharged in 1946. He died on April 1, 1968.