Country: netherlands
On this livestream walking tour, we’ll take you on a journey through Amsterdam's old Jewish district, highlighting the high and low points of the Jewish community from the late 1500s to the present day. You’ll be able to ask me questions and chat with fellow participants on this live virtual tour filled with captivating history, memorable highlights and views, and cultural insights. Amsterdam boasts a rich and multifaceted Jewish history that can be traced back to the late 16th century. Sephardic Jews arrived first, followed by Ashkenazi refugees a few decades later. Openly welcomed, they quickly became an integral part of the city's life, culture, and identity. Over time, successive rights and integration efforts helped to erase the distinction between Jewish and 'native' Dutch, with religion no longer being a defining factor in the 1800s. This swiftly changed with the Nazi occupation during World War II and the brutal persecution of the Jewish community during the Holocaust that will always be a dark stain on the city's history. Post-war generations have worked hard to commemorate the past and honor the victims through monuments of all sizes throughout the city. Powerful and perhaps the most remarkable is the National Holocaust Memorial, completed in 2021. Discover the rich and diverse Jewish history of Amsterdam, from its welcoming past to its sometimes challenging present, and learn how successive generations have worked to address the past and build a brighter future. The live virtual walking tour concludes with a visit to the National Holocaust Memorial, a powerful reminder of the city's resilience and determination.
Your guide: Mark Law