Jewish Cultural Quarter

There is one museum in Amsterdam that is worldwide known and famous. And about 75% of all the tourists that visit Amsterdam have this museum on its “Must See” list. So, no need for me to put that museum on my list because you have got it probably already on yours. Of course, I am talking about the world-famous Anne Frank house. The museum is one of a kind and tells you the intriguing story about the horrors that happened during the Second World War. But there is also a down-side with popularity of the Anne Frank House, during the summer season they sell out three months in advance. So, it is really hard to get tickets for the Anne Frank House.

That is why I am not adding the Anne Frank House but putting the following museum on my list. Actually, it is not 1 museum, but a bunch of museums and historical locations which describe 400 years of Jewish Culture in Amsterdam. If you are interested in the Jewish culture within Amsterdam due visit the Jewish Cultural Quarter.

Did you know that till the second world war Amsterdam had the largest Jewish community of the world. Visiting the Jewish Cultural Quarter tells the story of the Jews coming to Amsterdam as the hart of trading during the 17th century. And they brought diamonds to Amsterdam as well. For a long time, Amsterdam had the largest diamond trading business in the world. (Although Antwerp claims to have had the largest diamonds business till now). It will also give you a really good perspective of the position of Jewish A

msterdam locals during the second world war. More than a 100.000 Jewish people have died during that period.

Part of the Jewish Cultural Quarter are the National Jewish Museum, National Jewish Children Museum, The Jewish-Portuguese Synagogue, National Holocaust Museum, National Holocaust Memorial, ETS Haim (World’s oldest Jewish Library).

Wikipedia:
History
The Joods Historisch Museum opened its doors on 24 February 1932 and was initially housed at the Waag (Weighing House) on Nieuwmarkt square. Following the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in World War II, the museum was forced to close and much of the collection was lost. The museum reopened its doors in 1955. In 1987, it moved to a new location, occupying four former synagogues on Jonas Daniël Meijerplein square, across the road from the Snoge or Portuguese Synagogue.

The museum was recognized in 1989 when it received the Council of Europe Museum Prize, awarded for a combination of the presentation of the collection and the outward appearance of the buildings.
A seven-year renovation of the museum was completed in 2007.

Collection and exhibitions
The exhibition of Roman Vishniac’s photos at Amsterdam Jewish Historical Museum, 2014.
The museum’s collection includes some 11,000 art objects, ceremonial objects and historical objects, only some five percent of which is on display at any one time. It has two permanent exhibitions as well as regularly changing temporary exhibitions. The exhibition on the ground floor focuses on Jewish traditions and customs. The presentation is inspired by the former interior of the synagogue. Ceremonial objects from the museum collection are shown in locations where they used to be placed in the synagogue. This gives visitors a sense of the surroundings in which they find themselves and enables them to taste the original synagogue atmosphere.

In 2014 the museum presented an exclusive exhibition of Roman Vishniac’s photos. The photographer is famous for capturing the life of Jews during the world war.

The galleries of the Great Synagogue feature a new presentation on the history of the Jews of the Netherlands from 1600 to 1890. The central theme is what it meant to be a Jew in the Netherlands in this period. Stories about how Jews arrived in the Netherlands, the extent to which they managed to integrate, the cultural interchange with non-Jewish countrymen and the preservation of their identity resonate today in contemporary situations and debates.

All locations of the Jewish Cultural Quarter, except for the Portuguese Synagogue, are open every day of the week. Different opening hours apply on some public holidays.

Jewish Historical Museum & Childrens Museum & National Holocaust Memorial (Hollandsche Schouwburg)
Open seven days a week from 11 AM to 5 PM. The ticket desk closes at 4:30 and no new visitors (with tickets bought elsewhere) will be allowed in after 4:45 PM.

Due the National Corona restrictions all museums are closed until at least April 6th.
At this moment the Holocast museum is closed due renovation