Amsterdam · Museum

Jewish Museum Amsterdam: Four Synagogues and the Jewish Cultural Quarter

In the old Jewish Quarter, four former synagogues have been joined into one museum that tells the story of Jewish life in the Netherlands across four centuries — its traditions, its golden age, its destruction in the Second World War and its rebuilding. Here is what you will see, how tickets work, and how to fit the wider Jewish Cultural Quarter into your day.

By the AllTrips Editorial Team · October 3, 2026

The Jewish Museum at a glance

Location: Nieuwe Amstelstraat 1, by Jonas Daniël Meijerplein in the old Jewish Quarter. Allow: 1.5–2 hours (longer for the whole Jewish Cultural Quarter). Entry: ticketed; one Jewish Cultural Quarter ticket covers several venues. Nearby: the Portuguese Synagogue, the National Holocaust Museum, Hortus Botanicus and the Rembrandt House Museum.

Four synagogues, one museum

The Jewish Museum (Joods Museum, formerly the Joods Historisch Museum) is housed in four former Ashkenazi synagogues built between the late 17th and 18th centuries, linked together into a single museum. They stood at the heart of Amsterdam's Jewish Quarter, where Jewish communities — Sephardic refugees from Spain and Portugal first, then Ashkenazi Jews from Central and Eastern Europe — found a degree of religious freedom rare in Europe at the time.

That world was largely destroyed during the German occupation, when most of Amsterdam's Jewish population was deported and murdered. The synagogues fell silent and were later restored; the museum moved into them in 1987. Today the museum is the centre of the Jewish Cultural Quarter, which brings together the Jewish Museum, the Portuguese Synagogue, the Children's Museum and the National Holocaust Museum.

What you will see

• The Great Synagogue — the oldest of the four, with its marble Torah ark and a collection of ceremonial silver and textiles.
• Jewish life and religion — displays on festivals, rituals and daily life that explain Jewish traditions to visitors of any background.
• History of Dutch Jews — the story of Jewish Amsterdam from the 17th century to today, including the persecution of the Second World War and the community's rebuilding.
• The Children's Museum — a family-friendly space built around a Jewish household, included in the quarter ticket.
• Temporary exhibitions — changing shows on art, history and culture; check the official website for what is on.

Tickets

The museum is ticketed. A single Jewish Cultural Quarter ticket gives access to several venues, so plan enough time to use it fully. Booking ahead is sensible in high season and lets you pick your date in advance.

Getting there

The museum is at Nieuwe Amstelstraat 1, a short walk from Waterlooplein. Metro lines 51, 53 and 54 stop at Waterlooplein, and from Centraal Station it is about a 20-minute walk. The Rembrandt House Museum is around five minutes away on foot.

Practical tips

• Start early if you want to use the quarter ticket for the Portuguese Synagogue and the National Holocaust Museum on the same day.
• The museum closes on some Jewish holidays — check the official calendar before you go.
• Expect a security check at the entrance; allow a few extra minutes.
• The museum café serves kosher food — a convenient lunch stop between venues.
• See every stop on our Amsterdam attractions map.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Jewish Museum in Amsterdam cost?

The museum is ticketed, and one Jewish Cultural Quarter ticket covers several venues, including the Portuguese Synagogue. Museumkaart holders get free entry. Check the official website for current prices, or compare options via the booking link in this guide.

How long should I spend at the Jewish Museum?

Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the museum itself. If you also visit the Portuguese Synagogue and the National Holocaust Museum on the same ticket, plan for half a day.

What is the Jewish Cultural Quarter?

It is a group of Jewish heritage sites in the old Jewish Quarter: the Jewish Museum, the Children's Museum, the Portuguese Synagogue and the National Holocaust Museum, managed together and visited with a combined ticket.

Is the Jewish Museum the same as the Anne Frank House?

No. The Anne Frank House is a separate museum on the Prinsengracht, about 30 minutes' walk away, with its own tickets. The Jewish Museum covers the wider story of Jewish life in the Netherlands over four centuries.

Where is the Jewish Museum in Amsterdam?

It is at Nieuwe Amstelstraat 1, near Waterlooplein in the old Jewish Quarter. The nearest metro stop is Waterlooplein, served by lines 51, 53 and 54.

Sources

• Jewish Cultural Quarter — official website
• I amsterdam — official city guide