Amsterdam Jewish Quarter Tours

In Amsterdam, the area between Nieuwmarkt and Plantage was historically known as Jodenbuurt (the Jewish Quarter). This neighborhood contains many buildings of historical significance and is managed by The Jewish Cultural Quarter, an organization dedicated to the preservation of Jewish culture within Amsterdam.

You can access all of these buildings with a single ticket purchased at any ticket office associated with the Jewish Cultural Quarter.

A visit to the Rembrandt House is a must. This 17th century property of the famous Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn is located on the street that used to be the center of Jewish life in the city and features an exhibition about Rembrandt's life, his time and an interesting collection of his paintings and prints. I recommend you set aside some time to go into the small museum store, as you can find some good quality souvenirs at reasonable prices. The house-museum is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.

The Rembrandt house-museum is also the house in which the artist had lived and worked for almost two decades, creating some of his masterpieces. Just within these walls was where he made his magnificent work "The Night Watch", which you can see if you take a guided tour of the Rijksmuseum, another must-see museum in Amsterdam.

The mansion was built in 1607 and, before Rembrandt, had housed several artists and merchants. Rembrandt himself acquired the property in 1639. Although the painter was not Jewish, his paintings often reflect his life among the city's Jews: scenes from the Old Testament and many portraits of Amsterdam Jews.

Located within an impressive complex of four Ashkenazi synagogues dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, this is the main museum in the Jewish Cultural Quarter and one of Amsterdam's most important museums. It is less focused on the Holocaust and more on aspects of Jewish life and the relationship of the community and the city, being the only Jewish historical museum in the whole country, and perhaps in the world, to have under its possession some of the most important documents and manuscripts of the Jewish community.

Known as "Mokum" in Hebrew, Amsterdam was a haven for Jews for a long time, where Jewish communities such as the Sephardim from the Iberian Peninsula and the Ashkenazi from Central and Eastern Europe sought refuge. Although part of the same ethnic group, these two communities differed greatly in terms of economy and status. This is one of the themes of the Amsterdam Jewish Museum.

In short, if Jewish culture interests you, you are almost obliged to visit this museum, which is open every day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. On Saturday and Sunday there is usually a market in the adjacent square, so consider going on a weekend if you want to enhance your experience. Here is an article about Amsterdam' s means of transportation to show you how to get there.

And of course, on your trip you have to book an Anne Frank tour of Amsterdam's Jewish quarter, where you will explore the Jewish quarter and the story of Anne Frank during World War II with a professional guide who will tell you everything you need to know about the time when the city was under German rule.

In addition, you will explore the Jodenbuurt and Jordaan neighborhoods and pass by the Jewish Historical Museum and the Anne Frank House on this fantastic and moving tour that will take you deeper into this dark episode of history.

Gassan Diamonds is an imposing brick building dating back to 1897. One-hour tours in several languages include a visit to the diamond cutting and polishing areas, as well as a look at Gassan's glittering collection of watches, diamonds and jewelry. You can visit the building daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Before World War II, many local Jews worked as diamond cutters and polishers. It was once the largest diamond polishing factory in the world and the first to use steam power.

Round windows with the Star of David adorn the elegant 1766 Uilenburger Synagogue. Amsterdam's Sephardic community was one of the wealthiest in Europe during the Dutch Golden Age, and this wealth is reflected in this great synagogue, which is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the Jewish Quarter. The entrance fee is 15 euros, and also allows you to visit other buildings in the neighborhood. Hours are from 10 am to 5 pm every day except Saturday.

As a curious fact this synagogue (building for Jewish worship) located in the heart of the Jewish Quarter replaced a prayer house from 1724.

Synagogue services, musical performances and other organized meetings take place here. Usually on Friday evenings, Saturday mornings and holidays.

One of the few survivors of the entire development along St Antoniebreestraat is the Pintohuis, now a public library. Easily visible because of its Italianate facade, it is named after Isaac de Pinto, a Sephardic Jew who fled Portugal to escape the Inquisition and later became founder of the Dutch East India Company. Admission is free and it is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m.

Pinto bought the property in 1651 and quickly remodeled it in grand style. The mansion was the pearl of the city, even more so when Pinto traced the interior in a style never seen before: As you enter you can admire the beautiful frescoes on the ceiling, with lots of gold and birds drawn on it. There are also more recent additions at the entrance, such as the little cherub reading a book.

Witnessing the second oldest synagogue in Europe is a real treat. In addition, the ticket also gives you access to the Jewish Historical Museum across the street. The synagogue is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 am to 4 pm and Friday from 10 am to 3 pm.

I advise you not to skip the less main areas of the building (boardroom, winter synagogue, restrooms, office, candlelight room, mourning room, rabbinate, etc.), as they show much more than one might think. Also be sure to head downstairs to visit the treasure chambers which house some items such as 19th century manuscripts or gold thread tapestries. You can also check out a number of books belonging to the oldest Jewish library in the world!

The option to enjoy religious freedom is what brought most Jews from all over Europe to Amsterdam. Over the years, the city gained a reputation for being tolerant and offering equal rights to people of all communities and thus the community grew and a century later, in 1665, the Portuguese Synagogue was built. Also known as the Esnoga, at that time it was the largest synagogue in the world, having been inspired by Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem.

Outside the Portuguese synagogue, standing upright and well centered in a small square, is the statue of the dock worker by Dutch sculptor Mari Andriessen. This statue honors the workers of Amsterdam, especially those who went on strike in February to protest the Nazi treatment of the city's Jews.

To give you an understanding of the significance of this statue, on February 26, 300,000 people joined the protests. On the third day, the strike was harshly suppressed by the Germans, but it is still commemorated every February 25 with an annual wreath-laying ceremony near the dock worker statue. An event you should attend if you visit Amsterdam in February.

All political parties, as well as the city's public transport authorities and Holocaust survivor organizations, participate in the remembrance.

This museum is worth a visit, as it has an important story to tell. It focuses on how Jewish children (up to the age of 12) had to wait, separated from their parents, for deportation. It is open daily from 11am to 5pm.

Visiting the Holocaust Museum is a very moving experience, as it has objects belonging to younger children along with their stories. There is also an exhibition of photographs, most of which were found years after the war in personal collections or antique stores. Many individual stories are shared through these photos and accompanying documents. More than 104,000 Dutch Jewish individuals did not survive the war.

Across the street, you can see the National Holocaust Memorial, which lists all identified victims of the genocide in the Netherlands. A tall, elegant spire sits on top of the Jewish star, the centerpiece of the memorial.

The Waterlooplein Flea Market in Amsterdam is one of those destinations that you should not miss. By far one of the most interesting places in Amsterdam, it is also one of the oldest markets in the city. If you value saving money, I recommend taking a full tour of the market before shopping. Many items can be found in numerous stalls, and prices vary from stall to stall. The market is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

You can find just about anything here, from trendy attire and vintage military uniforms to jewelry, antiques and electronics. You can even get great deals on tattoos, there's nothing this flea market doesn't have. With over 300 stalls, this flea market is big enough to see the whole thing in just a few minutes. So be sure to allocate enough time for your visit.

On a historical level this market was built in the early 19th century, and was the most successful Jewish market in the city until World War II, when the Jews were banished. After the war, the market was revived and has since become one of Amsterdam's main tourist attractions. For more information about the market visit the following website.

The Hollandsche Chouwbusrg, once a popular theater, was one of the most brilliant sites of the performing arts and staged well-known plays and dramas. However, after the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam, it became a place of tragedy for Jewish families. Today you can visit it completely free of charge, as it narrates two different versions: the heyday of the Jewish community and the decline after the German invasion.

After World War II, the difficult situation of the theater did not improve any further. Due to protests, the glory of this magnificent theater never rebounded again. In 1960, the building was converted into a memorial in honor of all the Jews who were lost in the Holocaust. The place that once housed the former stage now bears a reflection of the tragic Jewish persecution. In 1993, a memorial chapel was installed that mentions more than 6,700 families, approximately 104,000 Dutch Jewish individuals.