Just across the Artis (Amsterdam Zoo) a small museum takes it visitors back to a very important time in Dutch History, the time of the Dutch Resistance. Called Versetzmuseum in the local language, the Dutch Resistance museum is like a catalogue that marks the rise of the Hitler in Germany, his invasion of Netherlands and then the struggle of the Dutch during the period of the World War II.
 
A one time historical exhibition about these years led to the establishment of this Museum in 1984. Through its pictures and artefacts, the Museum takes you to the years when the people of the land made small and valuable contributions that would help the Allied Forces. Whether it be distributing secret newspapers or helping people with falsified documents, the common man of Amsterdam in their own small ways resisted the mighty Nazi. The Museum aims to bring this Resistance to notice.
 
The building of the museum bears a Star of David and is named after Petrus Plancius, an Amsterdam clergyman. The Plancius café next to the Museum building is a great place to for some coffee and discussions after a visit to the museum.
A visit to this museum will be of special one for people interested in studying events that occurred around the time of the Holocaust. The exhibits are well labelled in English and you can also opt for more interactive guided tours at a small fee, if you are travelling as a group.

The grand platform for the performing arts since 1892 was tainted as the gateway to doom for thousands of Dutch Jew families. The Hollandsche Chouwbusrg, once a popular theatre staging well known plays and dramas was renamed as Joodsche Schouwburg or Jewish Theatre after the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam.

With an intention of curtailing the Jewish population and families, the theatre was strictly meant for Jews and no other community. However, this was not the worst part. The Joodsche Schouwburg soon became the reporting point where all Jewish families were forced to report before being transported to the concentration camps.

However, after the Second World War, the plight of the theatre did not improve any further. Due to massive protests, the glory of this magnificent theatre was put to an end. In 1960, the building was turned into a memorial in honour of all the Jews who were lost in the Holocaust of the Second World War. The place that once housed the old stage now has an obelisk reflection of the tragedy.

In 1993, a memorial chapel was installed mentioning over 6,700 families roughly 104,000 Dutch Jewish individuals, who did not make it from the concentration camps.

The Wertheim Park is a small, quiet and beautiful hideout in the city where you could tap into the philosopher in you.

A walk in the Wertheim Park will get you to the memorial that was built in remembrance of one of the most tragic occurrences in the recent past of Europe, the Nazi Concentration camp at Auschwitz. Built in 1993 by artist and writer Jan Wolkers, the monument is made of broken glass that reflects the permanent wounds that man has caused in the sky.

During the Second World War and the Nazi invasion, Jews were sent in large numbers to concentration camps in Poland. Among the several camps organized by the Nazis, the one that earned quite a notorious reputation was Auschwitz. Out of the approximately 140,000 Jews living in the Netherlands before the war, by 1944, 107,000 had been deported to concentration camps. There were over 95,000 among those who were sent to Auschwitz and by the end of the war only 500 had survived.

Commissioned by the Dutch Auschwitz Comité, the monument was initially residing in a Municipal cemetery. Every year the 27th of January is observed as the Memorial Day for the countless people who lost their lives in Auschwitz during the Holocaust.

The option of enjoying religious freedom is what brought a majority of Jews from all over Europe to Amsterdam. The city has over the years earned a reputation for being tolerant and offering equal rights to individuals of every community.

The Jewish community first took refuge in Amsterdam in the late 15th century. Fleeing from Spain and Portugal, they enjoyed religious freedom in Netherlands like no other. During that time, the Dutch Republic was also at war with Spain. To avoid further mishap, the refugees called themselves Portuguese Jews.

The community grew at a fair rate and about a century later in 1665, the Jewish community built the Portuguese Synagogue. Also known as the Esnoga, it was designed and built by architects Elias Bouwman and Daniel Stalpaert. Drawing inspiration from the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, the building back then was the largest synagogue in the world.
Today the Portuguese Synagogue overlooks traffic on one of Amsterdam’s busiest streets. However, the Synagogue itself seems to have gotten away untouched by the hands of time. Not much has changed in the design and interiors of the structure since then and one can still appreciate the antiquities and grand interiors that time has no effect on. During service about 1000 candles light up the entire synagogue.

Located in the heart of Amsterdam’s old Jewish district is one of the most detailed museums dedicated to Jews. Housed between four medieval synagogues, the museum shines light upon the history of the Jews of Amsterdam and their journey till the present day.

Amsterdam was the haven for Jewish community for a long time. Known as "Mokum" in Hebrew, Jewish communities like the Sephardic from Iberian peninsula and the Ashkenazi from Central and Eastern Europe sought refuge and flourished in Amsterdam. Although parts of the same ethnic group, these two Jewish communities had a huge economic divide and belonged to different strata of the society. The synagogues that accommodate the Museum today were first built by the Ashkenazi in the late 17th and 18th centuries.

The Jewish community enjoyed great religious freedom and tolerance in the Netherlands, till the Nazis took over the city in 1940. Despite the serious efforts that were made, almost 80% of the thriving Jewish population of the city was sent to concentration camps.

The Jewish Historical Museum is the perfect place to get a glimpse of the triumphs and tribulations of the community. Being one of a kind in the entire city, the Museum has in its possession some of the rarest documents, artifacts and manuscripts.

Featuring an immaculate neoclassic façade, this Roman Catholic Church stands in what was once the Jewish neighborhood of the city. Decorated and completed in 1841, the Church of Mozes en Aäronkerk was originally built in the late seventeenth century, undergoing several refurbishments along the years.
Until 1649 the house of Moses stood next to the present building. Beside it also stood the house of Aaron (Moses’s brother). Both these buildings were later combined to make the present day church which is where the name comes from. Initially, the Church lay quite plain and dull, and it was only in 1841, two centuries after its conception, that work was done to beautify the Church. The Façade and interiors where designed by Tieleman Suys Francis, who was known for his Neoclassic architecture.
Many tales are associated with the Mozes en Aäronkerk, one of which explains why the very little was done to decorate the Church and much was done to hide it. Built after the time when Amsterdam was declared a protestant city, great effort was made to hide this Roman Catholic Church from Protestant authorities. In reality the Church was named after the earliest followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. The official name of the Church however is Saint Antonius kerk, or Saint Anthony of Padua.

No trip to a city is complete without a visit to the local bazaars and markets of the place. The Waterlooplein Flea Market is one such destination you cannot afford to miss. One of the most interesting places in Amsterdam, the Waterlooplein Flea Market is also one of the oldest markets in the city. If you have the patience, you can find almost anything under the sun here. From the trendiest attires to old military uniforms, from jewelry, antiques and electronics to getting yourself a great deal on a tattoo - there is nothing this flea market doesn’t have.

Built in the early 19th century, the market was then a renowned Jewish market. It ran successfully up until the Second World War which brought along banishment of the Jews. However, after the War the market was revived and thenceforth has been a popular pit stop for tourists and locals alike. The market is crude and gives you the perfect bazaar feel. You can shop, haggle or just look around the various items on display.

With over 300 stalls, the Flea Market is very large to browse through quickly and with the wide array of items it is difficult to make a speedy visit. So make sure you have allotted enough time for this visit.

Gassan Diamonds is a family-owned business located in a beautifully restored diamond factory within the Jewish quarter. The company is billed as one of the leaders of local diamond industry. The historic diamond factory serves as a tourist attraction as well. Here you can not only buy diamonds, but also find out how the diamonds are cut and polished.