FAQ
To help you more effectively we have gathered together some of the most Frequently Asked Questions.
Prepare your visit
We're glad you’re coming! Here’s a list of our opening times, activities and everything you need to know for the best possible visit.
The Jewish Cultural Quarter has four locations: the Jewish Museum (including Jewish Museum junior), the Portuguese Synagogue, the National Holocaust Museum and Hollandsche Schouwburg.
Jewish Museum + junior
Nieuwe Amstelstraat 1
1011 PL Amsterdam
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Portuguese Synagogue
Mr Visserplein 3
1011 RD Amsterdam
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National Holocaust Museum (currently closed for renovation)
Plantage Middenlaan 27
1018 DB Amsterdam
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Hollandsche Schouwburg (currently closed for renovation)
Plantage Middenlaan 24
1018 DE Amsterdam
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The Jewish Cultural Quarter is open (almost) every day from 10am to 5pm. The Portuguese Synagogue has different opening times. Check in advance that the location you want to visit is open.
Opening times Jewish Museum + junior
Opening times Portuguese Synagogue
National Holocaust Museum closed
Hollandsche Schouwburg closed
The Jewish Cultural Quarter is easy to find by tram or metro. From Amsterdam’s Central Station take metro 51, 53 or 54 to Waterlooplein station, leaving by the Nieuwe Amstelstraat exit. Or take tram 14 from Central Station to Waterlooplein.
There are three underground car parks near the Jewish Cultural Quarter: Markenhoven, ParkKing Waterlooplein and Stadhuis/Muziektheater.
Great, of course! We have various activities for groups. Are you bringing a school class to the Jewish Cultural Quarter? Check our school activities.
Yes, in fact Jewish Museum junior is specially designed for children (6+).
- The Jewish Museum and Portuguese Synagogue is suitable for children from the age of 10.
- For the National Holocaust Museum and Hollandsche Schouwburg we also advise a minimum age of 10. That’s when children are able to empathise, they understand the difference between then and now and realise what it means to remember and to commemorate.
View our tips for visiting with children
Yes. All our locations have audio guides in Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. You can find these at the reception at each venue.
Tickets
Everything you need to know about tickets and prices.
A ticket to the Jewish Cultural Quarter costs € 18,00. You can visit all the Jewish Cultural Quarter locations with a single ticket. And tickets remain valid for a month. Entry is free with a Museumkaart, as well as several other concession cards. Special rates also apply for children.
You can buy tickets online or at the ticket desk. If you buy online you get € 1,00 off.
Show your Museumkaart at the ticket desk for a free ticket. No need to book a free ticket online. The same applies for these other concession cards:
- VriendenLoterij VIP-KAART
- Stadspas
- Vereniging Rembrandt
- AICA kaart
- I Amsterdam City Card
- Amsterdam Pass
- ICOM
- Jewish Cultural Quarter Friend
You can buy a Museumkaart at the Jewish Museum and Portuguese Synagogue ticket desk. It will get you into most Dutch museums free and you can use the card straightaway.
Your ticket is valid for a month. With it you can visit each Jewish Cultural Quarter location within that month, all on the same day, or on different days.
No, no need. If you save your ticket on your phone or tablet we'll scan it at the entrance.
If you ordered tickets online but haven’t received them by email, check whether the email has gone to your spam box. Make sure also that the payment has gone through and the money has been transferred. Still no tickets? Then get in touch with us.
Welcome to the Jewish Cultural Quarter
Four fantastic venues in the heart of Amsterdam’s old Jewish neighbourhood. Here you’ll find all the information you need.
Unfortunately, not. Please leave your coats and bags in the cloakroom area where lockers and coat hooks are provided. Small bags (A4 size or less) may be taken into the museum.
Yes. You’re welcome to take photos and film for personal use, unless otherwise indicated. And we’d love you to share your snapshots and videos with us on social media! But please don’t use flash, or a tripod or selfie stick.
Are you filming or taking photos for professional or commercial use?
At the Jewish Museum café we serve a variety of genuine Jewish foods. Our products are kosher, either dairy or parve. The museum café is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Please don’t bring food or drinks into the museum galleries.
Yes. All four locations are within walking distance. If four is bit much for one day, you can spread your visit. Your ticket is valid for a month.
Yes. Check our summary of guided tours.
At the National Holocaust Museum some exhibits show victims of atrocities, humiliated, abused or killed. This is part of the historical narrative of the museum.
We never use explicit images out of context and only where necessary to tell the whole story.
Accessible for everyone
Are you a wheelchair user or do you have a disability? We make every effort to ensure that you get the most out of your visit.
Yes. Lifts are available in every building. And each location has step-free entrances at least 80cm wide. The Jewish Museum’s wheelchair entrance is at Nieuwe Amstelstraat 3-5.
Yes. You can borrow a wheelchair at the Jewish Museum. To reserve a wheelchair, email to service@jck.nl
Yes, you can. The person accompanying you will receive a free ticket. Please book at least 5 working days in advance by email to service@jck.nl.
Yes. And at the Jewish Museum and Jewish Museum junior we organise tours for people with a visual impairment. At Jewish Museum junior everything is to pick up and touch. And free audio guides are available at every location.
Yes. And we offer Dutch sign language tours for visitors with impaired hearing. In addition, all our locations have texts providing extra information about the displays.
Yes. Assistance dogs are welcome. But no pets.
If you suffer from dizziness, chronic pain, dementia or any other invisible disability, please say so at the ticket desk. They’ll provide you with a Hidden Disabilities Sunflower: a badge or a lanyard. This discrete indicator lets us know that you may require extra support, assistance or time.
School visits
From infants to high school, we always welcome school visits at the Jewish Cultural Quarter.
Yes. We have tours for every age group and level. Themes range from culture and faith to Holocaust and commemoration.
Check our educational tours
No. We have programmes for everyone and match the content to your knowledge.
The Jewish Cultural Quarter connects you to history, culture and religion of the Jews of the Netherlands. We offer educational programmes about culture and religion, as well as Holocaust and commemoration.
Check our educational programmes
Yes. State the number of classes when you book and we’ll help to make sure your visit goes smoothly.
Yes. But be sure to book as a group. There’s no extra cost, and it helps us ensure your class has sufficient space.
All our educational programmes are also suitable for special needs groups. Be sure to state that you’re coming with a special needs group when you book so we can allocate more museum docents and split your group into smaller units. That allows us to give each child more attention.
To help you discuss antisemitism in class we have developed a course for teachers and museum staff called I ASK. It can help you create an open dialogue to explore your own and other people’s ideas.
We specialise in Holocaust education and teaching about difficult topics. We have developed methods for talking about anti-Semitism, discrimination and inequality.
Yes. We have various programmes for qualified and trainee teachers. Themes range from Judaism and antisemitism to discrimination and Holocaust education.
National Holocaust Museum
The National Holocaust Museum will open in 2024. It tells the story of the Nazi persecution of the Jews in the Netherlands.
The National Holocaust Museum is being renovated. Work on refurbishing the former teacher training college on Plantage Middenlaan is proceeding apace. The museum will open in 2024.
We recommend that visitors should be at least 10. At that age children can empathise, they can understand the difference between then and now and they realise what it means to remember and to commemorate.
Yes. Some exhibits show Holocaust victims humiliated, abused or killed. This is part of the historical narrative of the museum.
We never use explicit images out of context and only where needed to tell the whole story.
Portuguese Synagogue
The Portuguese Synagogue continues to be used as a place of worship. When not closed for services, it's open for everyone to visit.
Sunday to Friday, from 10am to 5pm (earlier on Fridays in the winter). The synagogue is closed for services on Shabbat (Saturday), and on Jewish holidays and memorial days. Please check that the synagogue is open before you visit.
Check opening times now
Of course. The Portuguese Synagogue is open for everyone.
At the Portuguese Synagogue men are required to wear a head covering. Wear your own hat, if you prefer. Skullcaps (kippot) are available at the entrance. Women may also wear a head covering, although this isn’t required.
To visit Ets Haim library, please join one of the guided tours.
Check when tours are available
Are you involved in research?
Check the options
Weddings are regularly held at the synagogue under the auspices of the Portuguese Jewish Community. To find out more about requirements and options please contact the community at info@esnoga.nl.
Collection & research
We manage the largest collection of Jewish heritage in the Netherlands. Everyone can make use of it. Whether you are doing scientific research, preparing a talk or want to know more about your family.
Al large part of the collection can be searched online.
In our knowledge centres in the Jewish Museum and the National Holocaust Museum (open from 2024), you can also consult books, archive material and photos.
Nice that you are doing your talk on something to do with Judaism. We have a lot of information on this subject.
Under stories and analysis you may find all the information you need.
If you are looking for something that is not listed here, you are always welcome to visit our knowledge centre.
To find out, you can always enter your name in our database, but please note that we do not have population registers. In our research guide you will find tips on how to research a possible Jewish background.
This is tricky to research, but we are happy to help.
Check out our research guide.
In our collection, you will find several witness reports. In the research guide, we explain where to find them.
Stolpersteine (stumbling stones) are brass stones used to commemorate victims of the Holocaust. The stones have the name, date of birth, deportation date, place and date of death engraved on them. They are usually placed in the pavement in front of the last self-selected home.
Stolpersteine have been made by German artist Gunter Demnig since 1992. The stones are now scattered all over Europe.
Anyone can apply for a Stolperstein. You can contact the Stolperstein Foundation in your hometown to do so.
If you are a museum or other cultural institution, you can request loans from our collection. If you are a (scientific) researcher, you can request photo reproductions and scans.
You can. Our collection grows by several hundred items every year, mainly thanks to private donations.