Religion/history
The display in the recently renovated Great Synagogue covers
Jewish religious life in all its diversity. It focuses on the
Torah, on the ingredients of the synagogue service as well as on
various festivals and key moments in Jewish life. The Jewish vision
of the sanctity of life is the central theme. In a series of short
films individuals tell about how they experience Jewish traditions.
Historic film clips of prewar Jewish life in the Netherlands are
also featured.
History of
the Jews in the Netherlands 1600-1900
The history of the Jews in the Netherlands from
1600-1900 is presented on the galleries of the Great
Synagogue. The central question is what it meant to be Jewish in
the Netherlands in this period. Where did the Jewish newcomers who
arrived in the Dutch Republic, and especially in Amsterdam in the
seventeenth century, come from? How did these Jewish migrants
organize themselves in this dynamic economic city? What kind of
opportunities did they find? And how were they restricted? The
stories about the first Jews to come to the Netherlands, about
assimilation and integration, cultural interchange with non-Jews
and the preservation of their Jewish identity are themes that
remain topical today.
History of the Jews in the Netherlands 1900 - The Present
Day
In the galleries of the New Synagogue, the new permanent exhibition
on the history of the Jews in the Netherlands from 1900 to the
present day is now open to the public. This exhibition is the
sequel to the one in the galleries of the Great Synagogue, which
spans the period 1600-1900. The twentieth century brought the Jews
in the Netherlands prosperity followed by untold grief. The first
few decades witnessed the continuation of a process of emancipation
that had begun in the nineteenth century. The rise of socialism was
one factor that helped the lower social classes of the Jewish
population to better their lives. With the Second World War, the
relatively safe existence of the Dutch Jews came to an end. By
routes including internment in Camp Westerbork, three-quarters of
them were deported to death camps and murdered by the Nazis. After
the war, most Jews believed that Judaism no longer had a future in
the Netherlands. Yet the year 1948 brought fresh hope and joy, with
the proclamation of a Jewish state, Israel. Today, the Netherlands
once again has a strong and vibrant Jewish community.
Fore more information and reservations:
Service & Sales Department
T +31(0) 20 5 310 380
E Service & Sales
Monday until Friday 9.00 tot 17.00
Make a
reservation
General information about
guided tours
