Hollandsche IJzeren Spoorweg-Maatschappij

The Hollandsche IJzeren Spoorweg-Maatschappij (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɦɔlɑntsə ˈɛizərə(n) ˈspoːrʋɛxmaːtsxɑˌpɛi]) or HSM (Hollands Iron Railway-Company) was the first railway company in the Netherlands founded on 8 August 1837 as a private company, starting operation in 1839 with a line between Amsterdam and Haarlem.

The company remained operational until 1938, when it merged with the Maatschappij tot Exploitatie van Staatsspoorwegen (SS) to form the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS).

The line was quickly expanded to follow the Leidsevaart canal and reached Leiden in 1842, The Hague in 1843, and Rotterdam in 1847.

This company grew so fast, that in 1891, the HSM, aided by the social activist Daniel de Clercq, began the Haarlem society called De Ambachtsschool to unify various city efforts to start a vocational school in Haarlem, in order to satisfy their need for workers in the booming train business.

[2] Economic woes caused by the First World War forced the HSM to start cooperation with the other Dutch railway company Maatschappij tot Exploitatie van Staatsspoorwegen (SS) to strengthen their economic position.

Steam locomotive HSM 89 Nestor acquired from A. Borsig in 1880 and used for express passenger service.
The former main offices of Seinwezen , the division in charge of signage for the railways, was located in Haarlem.