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Jewish Historical Museum

In the Jewish Historical Museum, located in four monumental synagogues in the Jewish Cultural Quarter, you can learn more about the Dutch Jewish life. During the 20th century, the Jewish community suffered indescribably and also the museum suffered. In 1933 the museum opened in De Waag, where it was closed by the Nazis in 1940. After the Second World War, the museum opened again in 1955 with a small part of the old collection. More than thirty years later, the museum moved to the Hoogduitse Synagogencomplex on the Jonas Daniël Meijerplein. This complex was very neglected after the war because there was very little left of the Jewish community. The museum was reopened on May 3, 1987 after a major renovation. Various facets of Nerlandish Jewish life are displayed in the museum, both then and now. There is an extensive multimedia collection, films, paintings, utensils and 3D presentations. There are also one or two temporary exhibitions throughout the year.

Jewish Cultural Quarter

The Jewish Historical Museum was expanded in 1993 with the Hollandse Schouwburg as a Jewish monument in memory of the Jewish victims who were gathered here by the occupiers during the Second World War. In 2009, the Portuguese Synagogue and Ets Haim were also assigned to the Jewish Historical Museum. All these locations were brought together in 2012 under the name of the Jewish Cultural Quarter and nowadays you can visit all museums easily with just one ticket.

Children's Museum

In the Jewish Historical Museum you will also find the Children's Museum, a museum that is designed as a house with six rooms. Here children are introduced to Jewish life and Jewish traditions in a playful way. There is something different to do and discover in each room, such as baking sandwiches in the kosher kitchen, learning Hebrew in the study or making music in the music room. Different activities are also organized  in the Children's Museum every week.

Opening hours

  • Daily from 11am-5pm

except on:

  • 1st of January noon-5pm

  • 27th of April closed

  • 19th, 20th and 28th of September closed

  • 5th, 24th, 25th and 31st of December 11am-4pm

Address details

Entrance fees

Visit all location of the JCQ with just one ticket:

  • Regular: € 17,00

  • Children until 17 years old: € 8,50

  • Children until 12 years old: € 4,25

  • Free for toddlers, Museumyearcard and BankGiro Loterij VIP-card

News letter

Monthly news (in Dutch)