's-Heerenberg

Jews lived in 's-Heerenberg as early as the first half of the 14th century. A memorial book from the time records local Jews amongst the victims of the pogroms of 1349-1350. Reports also survive of a Jew having resided in 's-Heerenberg during the second half of the 16th century, a time when few Jews lived in the Netherlands.

The Jewish population of 's-Heerenberg grew over the course of the second half of the eighteenth century. The Jewish cemetery located on the road to Zeddam dates to prior to 1752. A synagogue in a private home was in use in 's-Heerenberg by 1793. A permanent synagogue was built in an alleyway called Kattenburg, today the Oude Poortstraat, probably in 1801.

At the outset of the 19th century the finances of the Jewish community at 's-Heerenberg were such that it could no longer retain its religious teacher. Some years later the community was able to hire a teacher once again. Membership in the 's-Heerenberg community reached its high point during 1860's. A new synagogue was built, also in the Kattenburg, in 1871. At the time, the community was governed by a two-member directorate that was also responsible for the Jewish education of its children. The Jewish population of 's-Heerenberg remained constant over the first four decades of the twentieth century. Jews played an active role in the secular life of 's-Heerenberg. Most local Jews worked in retail trade, the meat business, and banking.