For
a relatively small city, Amsterdam is home to a delightful
abundance of world-class museums. Amsterdam's
museums contain an astonishing number of the worlds' greatest works of art, attracting over 4 million of visitors every year. Some countries in Europe don't get that many visitors, and our museums can be credited for drawing many of them to our city.
For children there is the fascinating museum NEMO, A hands-on, science and technology museum housed in an Avant-garde, boat-shaped building (appropriately located at the harbor).
For many museum and arts lovers, ..for tourists wishing to stay in Amsterdam longer, or even those planning on visiting museums in other Dutch cities The Museum Cardis an ideal solution. In addition to all the well known and not so well known museums, there are a large number of art galleries in Amsterdam to start or add to your own great collection.
TIN media centre is now open to the public at its NEW LOCATION - Sarphatistraat 53 in Amsterdam, featuring 100,000 books and plays in several languages, scores of music, subscriptions to international magazines, compact discs, and more than 6,000 videos. There are also spacious reading rooms and viewing facilities.
The Synagogue built in 1675 was erected
by Spanish and Portuguese Jews who fled from
their home countries in the latter part of
the 15th century settling here. This building
is as it was during WW ll German
occupation and miraculously was left completely intact other than for repair
maintenance. The inside lighting is accomplished with
over 1100 candles with no added electrical
lighting.
The museum complex consists of four synagogues, the oldest dating back to 17th century and houses a rich and interesting collection. It depicts the history, religion and culture of Jews in the Netherlands.and Amsterdam.
History of the JHM
The Jewish Historical Museum was established 75 years ago. From 1932 till 1987 it was housed in the medieval Weigh House, on Nieuwmarkt. In 1987, the museum moved to the restored complex of synagogues at Jonas Daniël Meijerplein.
The Weigh House (1932-1987)
On 23 February 1932 the Jewish Historical Museum was officially opened. It was located in a single room on the top floor of the Amsterdam Historical Museum, which was housed in the Weigh House.
In 1955 the museum was reopened by prime minister, Dr W. Drees. Only a fifth of the original collection remained. New objects were added from public and private collections. The Jewish Historical Museum now occupied the entire upper storey of the Weigh House.
In 1975 the Jewish Historical Museum expanded to cover two storeys. By now it had already been confirmed that the museum would be able to move into the former Ashkenazi synagogue complex on Jonas Daniël Meijerplein. The doors of the new building opened to the public on 3 May 1987.
The Ashkenazi Synagogue Complex (From 1987)
Since 1943 the synagogues in which the Jewish Historical Museum is located have not been used for services. In 1945 the individual buildings were found to have been ransacked and the furnishings of the synagogues removed. Only after thorough restoration did they become suitable accommodations for the Jewish Historical Museum. On 3 May 1987 Her Majesty Queen Beatrix performed the opening ceremony.
Wherever possible the old components were restored to their late 18th-century state. The colours of that era were used as well. The four buildings were connected with modern materials, such as glass, steel and concrete, to show that the transition from a synagogue to a museum was not a gradual process. In fact, it followed a break in history.
In 1989 the museum received the Council of Europe Museum Prize for its modern adaptation of the historical architecture, which has given rise to a museum that is unique throughout the world. The museum's contents have also received great praise.
The complex consists of four synagogues. Over the years the expansion of the Jewish community created a need for new buildings. Moreover, the people who went to the Great Synagogue had an entirely different status from the crowd that attended services in the Dritt Shul.
The oldest building is the Great Synagogue. It was consecrated on 26 March 1671 (15 Nisan 5431), the first day of Pesah (Passover). Elias Bouman (1636-1686) was the contractor and architect; he was later to design the Portuguese Synagogue. The Obbene Shul was built in 1685-1686. It was originally built above a meat market (hence the name) which was later replaced by a mikveh. This synagogue could seat around 400.
The Dritt Shul, the third synagogue, was constructed in around 1700 where a house had once stood. It now contains the museum administration and is not open to the public.
Finally, the New Synagogue was consecrated in 1752. The design of the New Synagogue is attributed to city architect G.F. Maybaum (d. 1768). Originally, this was the site of a small synagogue (1730) and three houses. The New Synagogue could seat almost a thousand people.
Address:
P.O. Box 16737
1001 RE Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Visiting Address: Nieuwe Amstelstraat 1, Amsterdam
Traditional converted ship is home to this
informative look at life along the canals
of Amsterdam
The Houseboat Museum gives you the unique chance to experience the life on board of a real houseboat. Moreover, this is the only Houseboat Museum in the world!
Unique location on the Prinsengracht canal in the central disctrict Jordaan, provide a fitting background for the museum vessel. The spot is only five minutes walk from the Anne Frank House and it's near to Westerkerk church.
On board you can see how this authentic barge was converted to a comfortable houseboat, provided with authentic skipper's quarters with sleeping bunk, sizable livingroom, kitchen and bathroom. You shall be dumbfounded at the space and comfort on board.
The vessel on which the houseboatmuseum is reconverted was built in 1914 and bore the name Hendrika Maria ever since. In those days the ship was propelled by sail.
The original vessel was engaged in transporting sand, gravel and coal until the ninteen-sixties. Thereafter the Hendrika Maria was converted into a houseboat in such a way as to maintain the historic outer appearance in being. The vessel has actually been lived in for about twenty years. Even though it is now no longer lived in, it seems though as if the residents just popped out to do the shopping. The houseboat museum is a living museum where one can poke about and sit where one wills.
In at least thirteen languages, there is a discriptive booklet with which you can find your own way around the boat
Visitor's Information
2009 Opening Times
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
January - February
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March - October
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November - December
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Closed:
1st Jan and 4th - 29th Jan (2010)
30th Apr
25th, 26th and 31st Dec
Admission: 2009
Adults
€ 3,50
Children up to 152 cm
€ 2,75
Annual museum pass
€ 2,75
I amsterdam card
Free
Groups of 15+ persons
€ 2,75
Extra opening times:
Easter Monday
Whitsunday
Open:
Always from 11 - 17 hrs
Additional information:
Book groups of 15+ persons via e-mail or telephone.
Conduct your own tour with information given in Chinese Danish, German, English, Finnish, French, Friesian, Greek, Hebrew, Hunarian, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Czech, Spanish and Swedish.
Postal address:
Post box: 17291,
1001 JG Amsterdam
