Amsterdam Sights


the Old Jewish Quarter of Amsterdam

For more than 350 years, Amsterdam was a center of Jewish life, and its Jewish community was a major contributor to the city's vitality and prosperity. The Waterlooplein area was their neighborhood, where they held their market and built their synagogues.

Of the five synagogues built in the 17th and 18th centuries, only the Portuguese Synagogue continued to serve as a house of worship after the devastating depletion of the Jewish population in World War II. The other buildings, sold to the city in 1955, stood unused and in great need of repair for many years. During those years, the city authorities and the curators of the Jewish Historical Collection of the Amsterdam Museum were patiently reestablishing the collection of paintings, decorations, and ceremonial objects that had been confiscated during World War II.

Ashkenazi synagogue complex (nowadays Jewish Historical Museum)

Hollandsche Schouwburg Hollandsche Schouwburg (Dutch Theatre)

Hollandsche Schouwburg

The former theatre the Hollandsche Schouwburg on Plantage Middenlaan 24 served during WWII as a gathering point for Jews before being deported to work camps. Many were directly put on a transport to Auschwitz, never to return. Sometimes people were locked inside for a week before they were transported to one of the German camps.


Diamond industry

diamonds when in Amsterdam visit one of the authentic diamond factories - a reminder of Jewish Amsterdam

Jews of Amsterdam

read more about the Jewish Community of Amsterdam

recommended website
Jewish Amsterdam map of Jewish life and culture in Amsterdam


nearby Attractions

Artis   the Amsterdam Zoo
Diamond factories  reminder of Amsterdam's flourishing Jewish diamond industry
Hermitage Amsterdam   satellite museum of the Hermitage in St Petersburg
Het Muziektheater   opera and ballet theatre
Hollandsche Schouwburg   National Holocaust Memorial
Joods Historisch Museum   Jewish Historical Museum
Nieuwmarkt   a square in the old centre
Portuguese Synagogue   once the world's largest synagogue
Waterlooplein   famous flea market

nearby HOTELS

more neighborhoods