Staying in Amsterdam? Visit the Jewish Historical Museum and immerse yourself in the history of this persecuted people through the centuries.
The Jewish Historical Museum tells the story of the Jews who have come to Holland since the 16th century. During your visit, you’ll discover the only museum in the Netherlands devoted exclusively to Jewish religion and culture. The museum is located in the center of Amsterdam’s old Jewish quarter, in the city’s former Great Synagogue.
Come and visit the Jewish Historical Museum and discover the traditions of this community, which settled in the Netherlands after being persecuted throughout Europe.
History of the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam
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Open since February 24, 1932, the Jewish Historical Museum takes you back through the centuries to tell the story of this oppressed people.
Open to the world, Holland has always been a welcoming country for immigrants. From the 16th century onwards, Spain and Portugal led a campaign of domination by the Catholic religion. Jews were forced to leave these two countries to avoid hiding. At the same time, the Thirty Years’ War pitted the Iberian provinces against the Netherlands. It was therefore only natural that the Jews should settle in these new lands, where they could practice their religion freely and, above all, without oppression.
Jewish rights in the Netherlands were increasingly recognized from the 17th century onwards. For example, a synagogue was built in 1612. It was the first in Holland. Jews were also officially recognized as subjects from 1657. Gradually, the Jews regained the traditions they had forgotten during the repression.
Thanks to a policy of openness in terms of religion, most European Jews settled in the Netherlands. Amsterdam was home to the largest Jewish community in Europe in the 18th century.
The Second World War particularly affected Jews living in Holland. The country was occupied from May 1940. The Jewish Historical Museum closed its doors and did not reopen until 1955. During this period, over 100,000 Jews were murdered, and fewer than 40,000 managed to escape the Nazis. The Dutch did not actively resist the German occupation. On the other hand, many of them helped Jews to hide.
Today, many synagogues and Jewish works of art have been destroyed. The Jewish Historical Museum brings together the relics of Jewish culture.
What to see and do at the Jewish Historical Museum
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To visit the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam is to discover over 13,000 works of art on the history and religion of this community.
The Jewish Quarter
The Jewish Historical Museum is located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Jewish quarter. Here you can discover the Portuguese Synagogue, one of the most beautiful in the world, as well as Azkenazi synagogues on the religion of Jewish communities from Eastern Europe.
The museum is also close to the Hollandsche Schouwburg. This is the Dutch theater where an exhibition is devoted to the persecution of the Jewish people during the Second World War.
Permanent exhibitions
The Jewish Historical Museum boasts over 13,000 works of art to help you discover the religion and culture of Judaism in the Netherlands. Thousands of objects, paintings, books, photos and videos trace the history of the Jews.
The permanent exhibits deal not only with Jewish religion and tradition, but also with Judaism’s links with Israel, and the persecution of Jews during the Second World War. You’ll also discover the personal stories of Jews through different eras, to understand the blending of Jewish and Dutch cultures.
The children’s exhibition
At the Jewish Historical Museum, an exhibition has been specially designed for children. The aim is to explain Jewish tradition and history to the youngest visitors, so that they can learn more about it. It’s a fun way to learn, with a range of activities on offer. Children can bake unleavened bread, write in Hebrew or play musical instruments. It’s a unique way to introduce youngsters to a culture that has left its mark on history.
The temporary exhibition
When you visit the Jewish Historical Museum, take the opportunity to discover the temporary exhibitions. These showcase the work of several Jewish artists. In recent years, for example, the museum has exhibited works by Andy Warhol, Jozef Israëls, Charlotte Salomon and Sem Presser.
The Jewish Historical Museum’s temporary exhibitions are also an opportunity to understand Jewish history through the cultural surveys presented.
How to get to the Jewish Historical Museum
The museum is located in Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter, at Nieuwe Amstelstraat 1. Several means of transport are available to visit the Jewish Historical Museum.
- Metro: Take lines 51, 53 and 54 and get off at the Waterlooplein stop for the museum.
- Streetcar: Trams 9 and 14 also stop at Waterlooplein.
- Car: To visit the Jewish Historical Museum, you can also park your car at the P Het Muziektheater parking lot.
- Bicycle: And finally, do as most Dutch people do and cycle straight to the museum.
Opening hours and prices of the Jewish Historical Museum
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SCHEDULES
The Jewish Historical Museum is open daily from 11am to 5pm. The museum is closed on April 27, September 21, September 22 and September 30.
RATES
- Adults: €15
- 12 to 18 years: €7.50
- Under 12s: free
GOOD TO KNOW
– The museum is accessible to people with reduced mobility.
– The ticket sold for the Jewish Historical Museum also entitles the holder to visit other monuments such as the Portuguese Synagogue and the Hollandsche Schouwburg. The ticket is valid for one month.
Now you know how to visit the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam!