The 17th-century Portugese Synagoge is a working synagogue but open to visitors as a central part of the Jewish Cultural Quarter in Amsterdam.
The Portuguese Synagogue or Esnoga in Amsterdam is one of the oldest and largest working synagogues in Europe. It is at the heart of the Jewish Cultural Quarter in Amsterdam. The building dates from the 17th-century and has a mostly original interior, which is still lit only by candlelight. A super audio guide explains the synagogue and various attached buildings to visitors of all faiths.
At the start of the Second World War, around 140,000 Jews lived in The Netherlands, of which only around 20,000 survived the war. The Portuguese Synagogue escaped the war mostly intact, as it was already a listed national monument. Its huge windows also spared it from being used as an internment center.
The huge synagogue was dedicated in 1675. The Hebrew sign above the door says 1672, the year in which it was due for completion. However, construction was delayed, as 1672 is known in Dutch history as Het Rampjaar (the disaster year).
The audio guide explains the various parts of the building as well as Jewish religious ceremonies. As the synagogue is still in use, male visitors are requested to wear a kipa (skull cap head cover available at the ticket office) while inside the building.
Tickets for the Jewish Cultural Quarter (Joods Cultureel Kwartier) in Amsterdam are €15 for adults, €7.50 for children 13 to 17 and students, and €3.75 for children 6 to 12. Online mobile phone tickets are available from Tiqets or the museum. The Museumkaart and I Amsterdam City Card give free admission.
Opening hours for the Portugese Synagoge are shorter than for the other Jewish sites as the synagogue is still functioning in its original religious capacity.
The Jewish Cultural Quarter has a central location just to the east of the center of Amsterdam. It is easily reached from Centraal Station on tram 9 or from the Anne Frank House on tram 14. It is also a pleasant walk from many parts of Amsterdam.
From the Portugese Synagoge and the Jewish Museum, it is only a few minutes walk to the Schouwburg, the Artis Zoo and the Verzetsmuseum (Resistance Museum) while Het Scheepvaartmuseum (Maritime Museum) is only around a kilometer away.
The brochure Persecution and resistance in Amsterdam (with map) describes a walking route between the Anne Frank House and the Resistance Museum via the Jewish Cultural Quarter and other related Second World War memorial sights.