Has anyone used guide Naomi Koopmans for The Jewish Amsterdam Tour? It's a 3+ hour walking tour that includes the Portuguese Synagogue, Jewish Museum and Holocaust Memorial. The online reviews are positive. We plan to add this to our Anne Frank House visit in September. Thank you.
Posted by
7 posts
I have heard that the Context Tour is very good. It is pricey, but I trust the source
Posted by
OP
WA State
3961 posts
Subsequent to my original posting I contacted Naomi Koopmans and booked her tour. She responded immediately and answered all my questions. Looking forward to the tour.
Posted by
7 posts
Please let us know how it was. I will be going in September and really want to do a Jewish Amsterdam tour.
Posted by
OP
WA State
3961 posts
I sent you a private message.
Posted by
26 posts
Hello
Am still trying to decide between the Context Tour, Naomi Koopersman's or Jeannette Loeb's tour. Any tips?
I am a historian so I am really looking for someone very knowledgable Jewish history. Too often tour guides' information is limited or worse, made up.
Any tips would be really welcome!
Noel
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
With your interest in Jewish history, you should try to fit in the impressive and moving Ashkenazi ("German") cemetery in Muiderberg, dating from the 1640s and still in use. Muiderberg is south-east of Amsterdam, and has an hourly bus from the railway station in Weesp. Your Amsterdam guide should be able to give you additional practical information on visiting it.
Posted by
26 posts
Thank you Tonfromleiden... I was thinking of going to Beth Haim -- my understanding is that it's the oldest Jewish cemetary in the Netherlands. Did you go there too?
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
You mean the Sephardic ("Portuguese") cemetery in Ouderkerk? I am not an expert, but I understand that both cemeteries are called "Beth Haim". It is indeed the oldest one, dating from 1614. Being the more affluent of the two Jewish communities, as their synagogues in Amsterdam show, its graves are more monumental, but somehow I found the Muiderberg cemetery more impressive.
It is easily reached with bus 300 from the railway stations of either Schiphol airport (take direction Bijlmer Arena) or Bijlmer Arena (direction Haarlem), which literally runs every few minutes. The Ouderkerk stop is around the corner from the Koningin Wilhelminalaan at the north side of the village, from where it is a 10-minute walk to the cemetery, as shown on this map.
Posted by
Boston
62 posts
Everyone - There is a post dated 8-5-19 from Noel labeled "Suggestions" in which there is a good deal of info about Naomi Koopmans' tour. You might find it informative. Good luck.
Posted by
OP
WA State
3961 posts
@cris, Thanks for the heads up about the Amsterdam suggestions. Well noted! Appreciate it.