History School Trip To Amsterdam

The building where Anne Frank hid from Nazi persecution sits on the Prinsengracht canal. As well as the preservation of the hiding place and an exhibition on the life and times of Anne Frank, the museum acts as an exhibition space to highlight all forms of persecution and discrimination Photo © Konrad Glogowski.

Located in the Jewish Cultural Quarter in four historical Ashkenazi synagogues, the museum focuses on Jewish history, religion and culture in the Netherlands and its former colonies. The permanent exhibition looks at the persecution of the Jews in WWII including life stories and also explores how Jewish and Dutch cultures have influenced each other. The museum has thousands of works of art, ceremonial items and historical objects. There are changing temporary exhibitions and a Children’s Museum which educates about aspects of Jewish tradition.

The Portuguese Synagogue in the Jewish Cultural Quarter of Amsterdam has a beautifully preserved 17th century interior and is still used for religious services. The synagogues annexe buildings contain a treasury of ceremonial objects and the world’s oldest functioning Jewish library, Ets Hain, a UNESCO world heritage site. The synagogue is not always open to the public due to its function as a place of worship.

Located in a former Synagogue and Jewish Cultural Centre this small museum looks at everyday life in Amsterdam under the German Occupation from 14th May 1940 – 5th May 1945. The atmosphere of everyday life is recreated, and the exhibition considers the impact on the Dutch population. The museum looks at the persecution of the Jews during this period and the Dutch Resistance Movement. The museum considers how the Dutch people responded to the oppressive Nazi regime, who took up resistance, why and what actions were taken.

Located 100 kms from Amsterdam, this was the only concentration camp controlled by the SS outside Germany in Western Europe. The site covers an outdoor area with re-constructed watch towers and an original barrack to show how the prisoners lived. Those brought here included Jews, political prisoners, Sinti and Roma gypsies, and resistance fighters. There is a Memorial to the Jewish children who were deported in June 1943, a crematorium and an execution area in the woods. Guided tours and education packs available for schools. Photo ©: Paul Jespers

Learn about the bravery of a Christian family, the Ten Booms, who risked their lives using their home as a hiding place for those being persecuted by the Nazis during WWII. A guided tour of the house reveals how the family provided a place of refuge for Jews, members of the Dutch resistance and others. Together with other members of the so called BeJe group they are estimated to have saved the lives of 800 Jews and other refugees.

Enjoy a 360º degree view of Amsterdam and the surrounding area from the rooftop and 20th floor of the A’dam tower. A lift with sound and light effects will transport you in 20 seconds to the indoor Lookout on the 20th floor where visitors can enjoy the panoramic views and discover more about the history and culture of Amsterdam through interactive screens. Take the stairs to the roof for more views of the historic city, the port, airport and the polder landscape.

A cruise through Amsterdam’s canals is a pretty and peaceful way to see some of the city’s most beautiful spots. Gliding through the old centre, the view encompasses elegant merchants’ mansions, carillon-crowned churches and warehouses with their rich history from Holland’s Golden Age.

Tip: There are 65 miles of canals that meander through the city.

The Netherlands’ largest museum houses a fantastic collection of Dutch masters from Rembrandt to Vermeer and Frans Hals. Students can trace the developments and continuities of artistic styles and techniques. Reopened in April 2013 after major renovations, the collection also encompasses objects from Netherlands’ cultural history and Asian art.

The largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world is housed here, along with the works of his contemporaries, Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. A visit here helps students understand the artistic context in which his works were created and the influence they had upon others.

Tip: The permanent collection includes 200 paintings, 500 drawings and more than 700 letters.

The Clara Maria Cheese Farm and Clog Factory is located southwest of Amsterdam in the polder. A guided tour allows students to see Gouda cheese being made in the converted barn using the milk from the farm and traditional processes. Groups enjoy a cheese tasting and a chance to see Dutch wooden clogs being made using antique machinery. An on-site souvenir shop has a variety of Dutch products available