Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
botanical gardens in the world, it dates from 1638, when medicinal herbs were grown here.
Today,amongits6,000differentkindsofplants—mostofwhichwerecollectedbytheDutch
East India Company in the 17th and 18th centuries—you'll find medicinal herbs, cacti, sev-
eral greenhouses (one with a fluttery butterfly house—a hit with kids), and a tropical palm
house. Much of it is described in English: “A Dutch merchant snuck a coffee plant out of
Ethiopia,whichendedupinthisgardenin1706.ThisfirstcoffeeplantinEuropewasthelit-
eral granddaddy of the coffee cultures of Brazil—long the world's biggest coffee producer.”
CostandHours: €7.50,notcoveredbyMuseumkaart,daily10:00-17:00,PlantageMid-
denlaan 2A, tel. 020/625-9021, www.dehortus.nl . The inviting Orangery Café serves tapas.
Jewish Historical Museum (Joods Historisch Museum)
This interesting museum tells the story of the Netherlands' Jews through three centuries,
serving as a good introduction to Judaism and Jewish customs and religious traditions. Ori-
ginally opened in 1932, the museum was forced to close during the Nazi years. Recent
renovations have brought it into the 21st century. Its current location comprises four historic
former synagogues that have been joined by steel and glass to make one modern complex.
The centerpiece of the museum is the Great Synagogue. First see its ground floor (for
an overview of Jewish culture), then go upstairs to the women's gallery (for history from
1600 to 1900). From there, follow the sky bridge to the New Synagogue (for the 20th cen-
turystory),andpokeintotheAanbouwAnnex(contemporaryexhibits).Then,withthesame
ticket, finish your visit by crossing the street to the Portuguese Synagogue, with its treasury.
Cost and Hours: €12, includes Portuguese Synagogue, more for special exhibits, ticket
also covers Dutch Theater—see next listing; museum daily 11:00-17:00, Portuguese Syn-
agogue daily 10:00-16:00, last entry 30 minutes before closing; free audioguide, displays
all have English explanations, children's museum, Jonas Daniel Meijerplein 2, tel. 020/
531-0310, www.jhm.nl . The museum has a modern, minimalist, kosher café.
Dutch Theater (Hollandsche Schouwburg)
Once a lively theater in the Jewish neighborhood, and today a moving memorial, this build-
ing was used as an assembly hall for local Jews destined for Nazi concentration camps. On
the wall, 6,700 family names pay tribute to the 104,000 Jews deported and killed by the
Nazis. Some 70,000 victims spent time here, awaiting transfer to concentration camps. Up-
stairsisasmallhistoryexhibitwithamodeloftheghetto,plusphotosandmemorabilia(such
as shoes and letters) of some victims, putting a human face on the staggering numbers. Tele-
vision monitors show actual footage of the Nazis rounding up Amsterdam's Jews. You can
also see a few costumes from the days when the building was a theater. While the exhibit is
small, it offers plenty to think about. Back in the ground-floor courtyard, notice the hopeful
messages that visiting school groups attach to the wooden tulips.
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