You are standing here on the Waterlooplein. Once it was a Jewish square. The real Jewish Waterloo disappeared completely in 1941. In the beginning of this year came an law that all Jewish people had to register. There were signs “Forbidden for Jews” and signs “Jewish Quarter”. This condemnation aroused much anger. In the Jewish Quarter the windows were smashed and people were mistreated very badly. After the war, the horrible truth about the destruction camps became known. The Jewish Quarter was empty, the houses that were vacated were looted by the German forces in the cold winter of 1944. And from the Jewish population only a few returned. Gone were they, the traders, the street trading and the crowds. It was quiet in the neighbourhood. When they started to create a reconstruction law in 1950 the neighbourhood started to look residential again ..

Waterloo Square

Cross the street of the Waterlooplein. Then turn right and walk into Turfsteeg on your left. The Jewish History Museum is at the end of the street, just in front of you.

Navigational story for Waterloosquare

You are standing in front of the Jewish Historical Museum. The Jewish Historical museum was founded before the Second World War in 1932. Because of the Nazi occupation the museum was forced to close and much of the collection was lost. When the war was over the museum reopened their doors in 1955. In 1987 the museum moved to four Synagogues and showcased their collection for public again. Just for the collection it’s worth a visit to Amsterdam Jewish Historical Museum. The collection includes 11,000 art objects, ceremonial objects and historical objects. On show now is only a small part from this grand collection. Art made by Jewish artists, Jewish religious arts, ceremonial objects and war documents. And it also has a large collection of books, brouchers, magazines, Jewish magazines and films, photography and musical collection on show. There a lot to discover about Jewish history, culture and religion. Take a visit and find out more …

Joods Historisch Museum

Facing the Jewish Historical Museum turn left, you will cross a pedestrian path. Keep on walking straight ahead, the Portuguese Synagogue is on your right.

Navigational story for Joods Historisch Museum

You are standing in front of one the most important legacies of the vibrant Jewish community in Amsterdam, the Portuguese Synagogue. The year of 1700 was a time when many Spanish and Portuguese Jews came to Amsterdam after they faced persecution. Over 10,000 Jews lived in Amsterdam. At that time the Sephardic Jews of Portugal were a huge instigator of the famous Dutch Golden Century. The wealth and influence of the Portuguese Jews in Amsterdam was noticed when the Dutch administrators allowed them to build their own Synagogue. The Portuguese Synagogue became the most biggest building in the world at that time. The architecture shows the self-confidence and wealth of the Jewish community. Around the main building there are various offices and archives, the rabbinate, a mortuary and the Ets Haim Library that holds valuable collections of Sephardic manuscripts. You can visit the Synagogue every day from 10 am till 16 pm, except for Saturday.

Portugese Synagoge

Now turn right, and keep on walking on Muiderstraat. Cross the bridge and keep on walking straight ahead. 

Navigational story for Portugese Synagoge

On your left you will find Wertheimpark. Walk into Wertheimpark. You will find here the Auschwitz monument. 

"Heaven remains forever violated. It is a god horrific attack on everything that a human being is all about. " This monument was created by Dutch writer and artist Jan Wolkers, in memory of the many victims of Auschwitz. This monument is made up of broken mirrors in which reflect the sky. A beautiful monument after the terrible Jewish prosecution in the Second World War. 140.000 Jews lived in the Netherlands before the German invasion in 1940 started to transport Jews to concentration camps. About 107.000 Jews of the 140.000 were transported. Only a few of survives of these horrific camps came back to the Netherlands. 95.000 Jews ended up in the concentration camp of Auschwitz. The words ‘Nooit meer Auschwitz’ in English ‘Never again Auschwitz’ remembers that this should never happen again. Every year on the last Sunday of January the comity of Auschwitz organizes on a Auschwitz remembrance at this monument.

Auschwitz monument

Leave the park on your right. Cross the street, and then turn left and walk into Henri Polaklaan. The Portuguese-Israelite Hospital is just on your right.

Navigational story for Auschwitz monument

For a long time this building was a hospital from 1916 built by the architect Harry Elte. It was the smallest of three hospitals in the city and it became known for the excellent care of their patients. A home for elderly Portuguese- Jewish women could be found on the left of the building. On the front of the building you see the Pelican with its three young, symbol of the Shepardi Jewish company. During the Second World War the hospital was used to sterile Jewish men who were in mixed marriages. The Germans made the Jewish men believe that if they would agree to an operation that they wouldn’t be transported. Still many of them were transported to concentration camps. After the liberation of the Netherlands in 1945 survivors from the camps were brought here to the hospital to recover. After the Second Word War the society ‘De Joodse invalide’ in English ‘The Jewish invalid’ took up the residence of the building. Using the name the House of Peace. Now is the former hospital serves as an accomodation for young people with 61 housing units.

Portuguese-Israelite Hospital

Keep on walking on Henri Polaklaan. At the end of the street turn left. Walk towards the Verzetsmuseum further down the street. Stop there.

Navigational story for Portuguese-Israelite Hospital

You’re standing in front of the Verzetsmuseum. This building wasn’t always the property of the Verzetsmuseum. Because in 1876 the building was built as a Jewish Cultural center and synagogue. Do you see the Star of David bearing on the museum and the name of Petrus Plancius? The name of the old house which stood on this spot before was kept because of its respect for the Amsterdam city traditions. Now this building tells the history of the Dutch people in the Second World War. The war that was hold from May 1940 till May 1945. The museum shows an exhibition which recreates the atmosphere of the streets of Amsterdam during the occupation of the Germans. Big photographs, old posters, objects, films and sounds from that horrible time, help to recreate the scene. This is an exhibition about the everyday life during that time, but also about exceptional historical events, resistance of the population against the Nazis and heroism. If you’re interested to find out more, the Verzetsmuseum is open every day till 5 pm.

Resistance Museum

Turn around. Keep on walking on this street till you see a crossing. Cross this street on the pedestrian path. The Holland Theatre is just in front of you on your right.

Navigational story for Resistance Museum

The Holland Theatre was always a popular and glamorous theatre here in the Plantagebuurt in Amsterdam. Everything changed since 1941 when the Germans changed the name of the theatre into Jewish Theatre. From that moment only Jewish musicians and artists could perform for a Jewish audience. A few years later the Holland Theatre got another function assigned by the Germans. As of August 1942 Jews from Amsterdam were forced to report for deportation. Thousands of men, woman and children waited in the Holland Theatre for their deportation to transit- camp Westerbork. From there they were put on trains to concentration and extermination camps. Long after the Second World War there was a monument unveiled in the memory of the Jewish victims. After a thorough renovation an impressive memorial wall followed, symbolizing all the murdered Jews of the Netherlands.

Holland Theatre

We are at the end of our tour. We hope you enjoyed the tour and learned some more about the Jewish people and history of Amsterdam. This tour was brought to you by whatsupwithamsterdam. A website filled with the best places to go out, to go shopping and to learn about the hidden treasures of Amsterdam. Thank you for listening and enjoy the rest of your stay.

Closing

Welcome to the tour about the Jewish Quarter. By learning these stories find out more about the Jewish history and buildings. Since the 16th century Jewish immigrants lived here and only 28,000 survived the Second World War. The few buildings they left behind: the Portuguese Synagogue, the Holland Theatre and the Jewish Museum, tell the Jewish history of Amsterdam. The tour starts at the Waterloo Square. Enjoy walking the tour.

Amsterdam

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